Lewis County Assessor Dianne Dorey, 68, was only 20 years old when she was invited by a county employee to begin working as a clerk in the assessor’s office back in 1975.
According to previous reporting by The Chronicle, she briefly worked as The Chronicle’s Chehalis bureau office manager before starting in the assessor’s office.
Since then, Dorey has not worked in any other office and was elected as Lewis County assessor in 1998. She has now served six consecutive terms.
Over her career, she was instrumental in modernizing the office as technology such as computers and the internet became essential to being able to work.
“(Computers) changed our entire business model and how we did business,” Dorey told The Chronicle. “It was a long time coming.”
Her decision to retire this year instead of seeking reelection marks the end of a career of more than 47 years in the office.
Her six terms as assessor make her the longest serving assessor in Lewis County history, according to a county news release.
“It’s been an interesting, challenging and rewarding experience. My most proud moments were working with county officials and lobbying the (state) Legislature,” Dorey said in the release.
During her time as county assessor, Dorey also served as president of the Washington Association of County Assessors and the Washington Association of County Officials. She also has been a board member of United Way of Lewis County since 1999 and served as an ambassador for the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce.
Dorey plans to spend her retirement with her grandson and friends working on home improvement and gardening projects. She’s hoping to do woodworking as well to make furniture and cabinets. She has also considered enrolling in Centralia College.
“It’s an opportunity to keep my mind fresh,” said Dorey in the release.
Earlier this week, the Lewis County Board of Commissioners presented Dorey with a commemorative plaque to thank her for her decades of public service.
The public is invited to a reception being held in Dorey’s honor on her last day in office on Dec. 30. It will go from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Lewis County Commissioners’ hearing room on the second floor of the Lewis County Courthouse, located on 275 W. Main St. in Chehalis.
