LOIS BOSTON RETIRES AFTER 22 YEARS

Some 22 years of service has ended for longtime voter registration clerk, Lois Boston of Cape Girardeau. She was forced to retire because of her health.

After two heart attacks within three months of each other, she decided it was time to pass the job onto someone else.

In 1974, after working as a secretary for the Cape County Nursing Service office at Cape Girardeau County Courthouse, Boston took over the enormous task of voter registration clerk.

A temporary four-year position was offered to her by former Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rusby Crites.

The position was not temporary. Two decades later there is virtually no registered voter in Cape Girardeau County who does not know her name.

"I really like the job," Boston said, "but something was telling me to do something else."

On March 5 and again on June 12, the slim 65-year-old had heart attacks.

With no history of heart disease and in relatively good health, Boston was surprised to learn she had a clogged artery.

Boston's 90-year-old mother, Verbie, is still going strong in Boston's hometown of Piedmont.

"My mother is a bit hard of hearing but she lives alone and talks on the phone all the time; she is in better health than I am," Boston said.

After growing up on a rural Piedmont farm as Lois Hixson, Boston married Thomas Boston.

In 1963 the couple moved to Cape Girardeau to raise their family. Ten years later she was responsible for the endless task of registering voters throughout the county.

Boston did not have the luxury of computers during her early years as clerk.

"We listed names in poll books and on master files," she said. "They were great big enormous poll books."

During her first four years on the job 18-year-olds were given the right to vote. And a new county clerk was voted in.

"I had a new boss and new election law changes," said Boston.

Although she had some exposure to politics, Boston really learned to "love it" in her position; although she said she has remained neutral on her views.

"Whatever party you are, or whatever your views are, you leave it at home," she said.

Over the years Boston has become familiar with many people in the county, explaining that the people made her job worthwhile.

Boston said it was gratifying to offer absentee ballots to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to vote.

Over the years Boston's ability to work with people has solved many tense situations.

"I remember one man who was not happy when he found out his name was not on the poll books," she said.

"He told me he would sit and not leave the premises until he could vote. 'I am a citizen of the United States and I have a right to vote,'" he told Boston.

She made several phone calls all the way to a circuit court judge to solve the problem.

"As best as I can remember, he voted," she said.

The active Boston will keep on the go in retirement. She plans to volunteer at Southeast Hospital and play golf and bridge on a regular basis.

"I never thought about retirement," she said. "I thought I would be here in my office until I dropped."