Driver parks her school bus after 43 years|[9/05/06]

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 5, 2006

After 43 years of waking up at 5 a.m. to get students to school on time, a Vicksburg Warren School District bus driver is hanging up her bus keys.

Patsy O’Connor Raines, 68, dropped off her last student at Beechwood Elementary shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday and began her first day of retirement.

&#8220Well, I guess I came back all those years because it’s something that just gets in your blood,” she said. &#8220But now, my husband and I have made plans to do a good bit of traveling and maybe sit around the house a little bit. My health is not what it used to be either.”

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Bobby Raines, Patsy Raines’ husband since March 2005, said he’s going to be happy having his wife around more.

&#8220I’m going to let her take care of me – you know we’re newlyweds,” said Bobby Raines, a 1977 retiree of the Vicksburg Fire Department. &#8220I’ve been retired for a long time, but I left her retirement up to her. I didn’t entice her one way or the other.”

David Keen, Vicksburg Warren School District transportation supervisor, said Raines has been a bus driver longer than anyone in the district.

&#8220I’ve been her supervisor since I got here three years ago, but I’ve known her for about 40 years,” Keen said. &#8220I keep asking her if she’s leaving us because we gave her the first new bus she’s had in over 40 years. That usually gets that big smile of hers going.”

She began driving for the district in 1964 for $85 a month and had to pick up about 60 students along U.S. 61 North and South.

&#8220I used to drive about 17 miles before I ever picked up one child. I drove from Eagle Lake Ferry to Hearn’s Store – that’s when I was driving for Redwood,” she said. &#8220I drove for them for about 22 years. Then I started driving for the special-needs children in the 1980s, and I’ve been doing that for the last 21 years.”

Raines’ most recent route included about 17 students and stopped at Beechwood Elementary, Warren Central Junior High and Warren Central High School.

&#8220I think that’s what I’m going to miss the most,” she said. &#8220You get really attached to these children. They’re just the sweetest little things, and I’ve been picking up some of them since they were babies.”

Raines said having a good relationship with the children’s parents has also helped her stay around.

&#8220I’ve had parents to tell me that they never worried about their children getting hurt when they were on my bus,” she said. &#8220I didn’t have any fighting or standing up on my bus.”

&#8220Although I had control of my children, I have noticed some of the children talking back to the bus drivers and other adults, and I remember when a child wouldn’t dare do that,” said Raines. &#8220That’s probably the biggest change I’ve noticed in the children over the years.”

Bus monitor Sue Bishop joined Raines’ route in November 1989 and recalls watching her bond with the children.

&#8220Before I started riding with Patsy, I had no idea there were so many special-needs kids,” she said. &#8220And she had a fantastic relationship with them. We’ve had things to happen to us over the last 16 years that we’re still laughing about today.”

&#8220It’s been a wonderful ride,” said Bishop, who assumed Raines’ route Friday. &#8220I hate to see her go, but we’re good friends and we’ll keep in touch.”

Keen agreed.

&#8220We’re losing a very dedicated driver,” he said. &#8220She really cared for those children. She’s just a good person all around. We’ll miss her.”

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