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(KSL News) The State of Utah today bid farewell to its oldest employee. RaeDell Ashley decided it was time to retire at age 90, and today a reception was held in her honor at the Utah Department of Health.
Ashley actually started the state's Medicaid program in a small room with only four employees many, many years ago.
"A man from California called me and said, ‘Come down and work for me.' And I said, ‘I'm not 18,' because we have a joke about being 18. And I said, ‘I'm not 18.' And he said, ‘You've got a couple of good years left," Ashley said, laughing.
Looking at Ashley, she's got a lot more than that ahead of her.
"I'm going to look at trashy television. I'm going to read trashy novels," she said. "I'm going to sleep for a month, and then I'm just going to go out. I love Salt Lake. I want to know every building that's being built. That's what I'm going to do."
She says there comes a time when you know it's time to retire, and the day before yesterday wasn't the time for her. But today she says, "I'm ready!"
