Diane Timm celebrates retirement from county

After 10 years with the county, one of them pushing a broom and nine of them recording legal documents at the auditor’s office, Diane Timm’s fellow employees brought savories and sweets to celebrate her final days on the job.

Timm moved to San Juan Island in 1989 after spending nearly 30 years as a medical lab technician in the Seattle area. Under the “it’s a small island” heading, shortly after moving to San Juan County, Diane took her dogs to be boarded at Animal Inn and met then-owner, Milene Henley. Twenty-two years later Henley was elected auditor – and became Diane’s boss.

During her first years on the island, Diane worked as a gardener for the National Park Service at English Camp nine months a year and began to build her own house. She joined the county in 1998, taking a night job as a custodian at the courthouse so she could continue working on her house during the day.

When her house was complete, she applied for an opening in the auditor’s office, was hired and has been providing customer service – recording documents and assisting with licensing – ever since.

Her retirement plans begin with six months of travel to spend time with her two daughters and four grandchildren who live on the Olympic Peninsula, and with other relatives scattered around the country. When she returns home, she plans to get involved with the San Juan Island Animal Shelter and to put her records expertise to work, volunteering with the historical society.

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