It was a sad day as Susan Tyler, community health nurse for the Department of Health in Carbon County, said her farewells.

Tyler retired on June 18, after 29 years with the Department of Health; 22 of those years as the community health nurse in Carbon County.Many individuals from various county organizations attended a surprise retirement party for her, held at the Right From The Start Office in Jim Thorpe on Tuesday afternoon.During the two-hour party, friends gathered with Tyler to share stories about their time together and wish her a happy and healthy retirement.Tyler said she will miss everyone, but plans to continue to remain active in the many groups she belonged to as long as she is in the area."It has been my honor to work with the dedicated and caring people in Carbon County," she said. "They do such a great job."Besides her position at the Department of Health, Tyler served as chairwoman of Carbon County Safe Kids, an organization that focuses on educating families about safety issues. She also was involved in Partners for Progress, Carbon County's Interagency Council, Children's Team, the Child and Family Collaborative, the AHEC Board, the Head Start Advisory Board, Prosper, and the Weatherly Wellness Council, just to name a few.She also named her successor, Melanie Zeigler, who will serve as the new community health nurse for the Department of Health in Carbon County. Zeigler has worked at the Department of Health for eight years.Following a picnic-style lunch, Mindy Graver, family living educator for Penn State Cooperative Extension and new chairwoman of Carbon County Safe Kids, and Carbon County Commissioner Wayne Nothstein, who is involved in many of the same organizations Tyler belonged to, presented her with various resolutions and gifts.Tyler received resolutions from Speaker of the House Keith McCall, and Sens. Ray Musto and David Argall, for her dedication to the county and the residents.She also was presented with two hats Carbon County Safe Kids and Penn State three shirts from various departments, a desk clock, and other gifts.Pat Sasserath, executive director of the Carbon County Assistance Office and member of the Children's Team, said, "You're a true doer and we're going to miss you."Tyler now plans to travel to North Carolina more with her husband Michael, to spend time with their daughter, Melissa, and her husband and their granddaughter.