BILOXI, Mississippi (WLOX) – Bonnie Pierce, a longtime employee of Keesler Federal Credit Union, was touched by the warm applause of her friends and colleagues on Monday.

A celebration was held for her at the Keesler Federal Credit Union branch in Biloxi to mark her retirement after 50 years of service, but she said it doesn’t seem that long ago.

“That’s really not the case, time passes quickly,” Pierce said.

Her career here began when she graduated from high school and evolved into five decades at the credit union.

Pierce says she remembers her first year as a cashier at the branch on Keesler Air Force Base when she was just 18 years old.

“You keep going, it’s good that you’re holding on,” she said. “That chance came to me in 1974 and that was enough.”

She worked in accounting for 42 years and has served as financial coordinator for the last seven years.

Pierce said she is ready to spend more time with her husband and daughter in retirement.

“It also makes me sad to leave great people I have worked with all these years,” she said.

Her husband, Steve Pierce, said Bonnie’s dedication inspired him and was one of the reasons he fell in love with her.

“This is a solid woman,” Pierce said. “She’s proven to me that she’s just a wonderful wife and a wonderful friend.”

Dennis Liverett has worked with Pierce on the Keesler Financial Group team for the past seven years and said she has been a light that has inspired positivity.

Liverett also said her years of service should be an inspiration to anyone entering the profession to stay the course and master their craft.

“The relationships you have with your coworkers and employees are the most important thing,” Liverett said. “The job has its ups and downs, but if you build relationships with people, you can make it through.”

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