For more than 28 years, Jackie Spence has been the faithful friend who visited Lake Arthur area residents, come rain, snow, sleet or hail. "Jackie is absolutely a priceless jewel," Lake Arthur Postmaster Ruth Ann Brown said in a recent interview after Spence's retirement from the U.S. Postal Service. "Her customers are really going to miss her." Brown said Spence has always been extraordinarily conscientious about her job as a rural mail carrier. "She was so considerate and really, really cared about her customers," she said, adding, "She was always smiling and always a pleasant part of her customers' day. ... She's really going to be sorely missed." Spence began her career working as a substitute-substitute mail carrier in Lake Arthur in the early 1970's. In August 1974, she became the substitute carrier for the rural route. She later became the full-time rural mail carrier, the fourth regular rural carrier the post office has had since it was opened in Lake Arthur. "It's been a very rewarding job," Spence said. The people she has met and whose lives she has shared over the years are what made the job really special, she added. "I'm going to miss my customers, that's for sure." She has shared in their lives, seeing children grow up, wedding invitations mailed and later baby announcements. "I really and truly will miss it," she said. Six days a week she sorted the never ending supply of mail into the order of delivery and drove 78 miles delivering mail to more than 200 customers, a schedule she described as an "easy route." A few years ago, Spence was honored as the State of New Mexico's Rural Mail Carrier of the Year. But it was the day-to-day work and mail delivery that Spence was the most proud of. "You'll find with most rural mail carriers, we say it with pride. We try to deliver the mail carefully and at around the same time every day to make it where people don't have to leave their home for mail service," she said. By many accounts, Spence's exceptional work ethics and her care and concern for her rural mail customers are what make her "one of a kind." "I looked out for my customers and my customers looked out for me," she said. There were times when she was delayed a few minutes by weather and her mobile phone would ring with customers asking if she was all right. "They were very nice customers," she said. A couple of times she got stuck in the snow and her husband, Solon, came with a tractor and pulled her vehicle out. "I can remember only three days in all these years that I did not deliver the mail," Spence said, explaining that bad weather resulted in the closure of the highway, which prevented the mail trucks from delivering the mail to the Lake Arthur post office. "Lake Arthur was very proud of our record," she said. When asked if there were low points in her career, Spence had to think awhile before saying that the frozen mailbox doors and the occasional dead snakes put inside mail boxes by mischievous children were the only low points of her 28 years. No doubt her quick sense of humor and positive outlook got her through those low points just fine. Spence has developed many lasting relationships while working in the small, rural post office in Lake Arthur. "In a small office, everyone is sort of like your family," she said. And family is obviously an important part of Spence's life. She and her husband, Solon, met in 1948 and married in January 1950. They had been married for more than 48 years when he passed away two and one-half years ago. Their five children, Mary Jane Ward of Hobbs, Candy Ezzell who lives near Roswell, Jim Spence of Artesia, Steve Spence of Cottonwood and Trampas Spence of Artesia, have remained close to home. Spence has 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Spence continues to farm in the Cottonwood area and is active in the Artesia community. She serves as Lector at St. Anthony's Catholic Church and has been a member of the Eddy County Fair Board and the Eddy County Extension Club. She has been a 4-H leader for 40 years and is presently serving as an advisor.