Southern Ute Behavioral Health staff members and friends gather around the “Queen Bee,” Mary Young in the Behavioral Health’s Mesa Building for a retirement party held in her honor, Friday, May 24. Young retires after 10 years with the Southern Ute Behavioral Health, recently as the Behavioral Health Manager. Young has been in the psychology and therapy field for over 30 years, graduating from Colorado State University in 1989, then starting her career with an internship in Gunnison, Colo. Young stated, “Never forget, you are the piece that made a difference.”

Mary Young displays her retirement cake adorned with bees, Young is fondly called the “Queen Bee” amongst the Behavorial Health staff, and the Mesa Building is the BEE Hive. Young says she will miss the get-togethers, and the people she works with. Staff expressed their appreciation and gratitude towards Young, “we are grateful for your leadership,” expresses Rebecca Gale, Behavioral Health’s lead therapist. Young originally from the Del Norte, Colo., in the San Luis Valley, plans to see more live music, read more, and delve into her geneology. She also hopes to to to Guatemala and cruise through the Panama Canal.

Mary Young's retirement cake adorned with bees.

Mary Young proudly shows one of her gifts received from her staff during her retirement party.