Our people: Closing a chapter

After 30 years of providing uniforms for nurses and other medical employees of Curry and Roosevelt hospitals, clinics and doctors' offices, Mickey Erwin plans to close Mickey's Uniforms and More for good on Friday.

It was a hard decision, she said, a move she and Tiffany Romero, her long time employee, had been talking about for a couple of years, even before COVID-19 struck, instantly accelerating the medical profession into high gear.

Now, however, the decision is final, and Mickey's Uniforms will shut down Friday.

Mickey Erwin, however, has obligations that she said will keep her busy for months after the store closes.

She found time last Tuesday to talk with The News about her retirement, what comes next and other matters.

Here are our questions and her responses.

Q. So you're retiring after 30 years. What are your feelings about that?

A. It was a very hard decision, but I need to work through some personal and family situations now, especially since my husband Larry passed away last September. I've been doing this for 30 years, and now it's time for this chapter to close.

Q. What do you plan to do after retirement.

A. For now, I'm working through some business transitional matters that are going to take some time. It's been hard on us for the past several years. During the pandemic, we felt the need to stay in business. We were an essential business. Those two years were critical.

Q. So, how did you get into this business?

A. My brother-in-law Randy opened a shoe store, which has now become Brown's Shoes. He asked me one day if I would work for him in the uniform business. I took the job, then he pulled out, and I kept it going.

Q. What kept you going for 30 years?

A. It was the people. Nurses and student nurses could come in here, and we would be a place of refuge for them. They could talk about things and people they couldn't talk about on the job. They knew what they said here wouldn't be repeated to anyone. They would be hesitant until they knew we would not repeat what was said, and they worked with doctors and nurses. We created lifelong bonds.

Q. Medical uniforms have changed over the years. They used to be starched and white. What do you think of the change?

A. I came in at the end of that era, just about the time nurse's caps were going away and uniforms could become fashion conscious. Tt hat has done good things for nurses, who often go through life sleep-deprived and under a lot of stress. Now, if they can get a compliment on their uniforms, it can make their day. That was especially true during the pandemic. The patient has a positive reaction in that first instant when they see the nurse.

Q. Are you a lifelong Clovis resident?

A. No. I was born in Texas and when I was about four years old, we moved to Portales. When I was 11 or 12, we moved to Clovis. I met my husband who was stationed at Cannon, and we married here.

Q. What do you like best about living in Clovis?

A. We have the greatest people. I think what makes them nice is living in isolation in eastern New Mexico. People at Cannon quite often get a big culture shock here because we are so far from everything. But then they discover the people are nice and friendly. I think that's because we're in the middle of nowhere.

Q. And what about community involvement?

A. I haven't been involved with the community for some time. My husband and I were involved in downtown revitalization for a while.

Q. What do you like to do when you have leisure time?

A. I haven't had any recently, but when I do have some, I like to work in my yard and play with my dogs. In the past I've done cross-stitching and I might pick that up again, if I can. And visit with my grandkids, but they're all far away.

Q. And where are they located?

A. My son Geoff lives in Dallas, and he's a financial consultant. His daughter graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism. She interned for the Austin Magazine in Austin, Texas, where she lives, and she has done some freelance work for them.

My sone Erik lives in California near Sacramento. His oldest son is Isaac, who likes baseball, the next oldest is Della. She's a pole vaulter and captain of her high school track team. The youngest is Lilly, who likes track.

All of the grandkids are doing well and seeing some success in their lives.

And I can't forget Tiffany Romero. She's been with us for almost 18 years. She feels like a daughter to me. (And Tiffany said Mickey is a "second mom" to her.)