Working at a retail store for 20 years has taught Marty Dechant 'to go with the flow'



By JUDY SHERARD

jsherard@dailynews.net

1Dechant is the jcp.com supervisor at J. C. Penney on The Mall.

"I used to be catalog supervisor, but (they) changed it to jcp.com," she said.

While a few may miss browsing through the thick catalogs, many like online shopping.

"You can just relax in your own home, and take your time looking," she said.

Those who don't have access to computers aren't left out, either. Dechant said members of her department are glad to help them.

However, just like catalog orders in the past, she recommends people order early.

Stores can get hectic, and tempers short this time of year.

"I've been in retail for 20 years now, and 99.5 percent of people are wonderful, but one or two want to make things difficult," she said. "You just learn to go with the flow."

Twelve of her 20 years in retail have been at Penney's. She started in the lingerie department, and worked in several departments before being made a supervisor six years ago.

It's a "wonderful group of I call them kids, but they are kids to me, working for me," Dechant said.

Originally from Rexford, she moved to Hays about 26 years ago. However, her two children still live in western Kansas.

Dechant and her husband Jim have been married almost 22 years. He also has two children, and together they have 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren with another on the way.

Because weather can make traveling difficult, they usually wait to make plans for the holiday.

"Usually family holidays are here at our house. . . My husband's a wonderful cook, so that's kind of nice. Everybody looks forward to coming here," Dechant said.

While she belongs to the VFW Auxiliary and is active in the Relay for Life committee at work, she also enjoys being at home.

"Jim and I are both pretty much home bodies. . . We enjoy each other's company. We play cards, listen to old music."