October is National CO-OP month and NEMR’s (Northeast Missouri Rural Telephone Company) 70th Anniversary (1952-2022). NEMR’s longest living cooperative member is Mabel Hill of rural Novinger, Missouri. At 102 years and 9 months old, Mabel has had service with NEMR since 1953. NEMR’s CEO, Michele Gillespie, recently visited Mabel and gave her a blanket and 70th Anniversary coffee mug. She was very pleased and surprised to receive gifts. Mabel told Michele about the first telephone she had, the exchange it came out of, her phone number, and about the party lines which brought a few chuckles. She shared memories of her years on the farm as a wife, mother, and grandmother. “It is wonderful working for a cooperative, that after 70 years, still exists because of members like Mabel,” said Gillespie. Submitted by Jennifer Chrisman
