| Mary Gail Harkins Practice Manager |
| My name is Mary Gail, and I am the Practice Manager at the El Dorado Animal Clinic. As a new bride in 1972, I came to El Dorado after graduation from Kansas State University. I was a stay at home Mom until the fateful day in 1986 when we discovered our bookkeeper had been embezzling from the Practice. I went to work. Although I was educated, my degree is in Secondary Education with an emphasis in English; I had never taken a single business course! I learned through the "School of Hard Knocks". I feel very good about what we have accomplished since that day in 1986. We went from bankruptcy to being able to expand our clinic by three times its original size in 1999 and we have been able to keep up with the advancements in veterinary medicine... most recently adding a surgical and a therapeutic laser. Besides being the Practice Manager, I have worn many other different hats. First, as the wife of Dr. Davy Harkins, then as Mother to our eight children, with 21 years between the oldest and the youngest, and now, as GG to 13 grandchildren, with a few others "adopted" along the way! We have hosted six foreign exchange students. Baby animals that need mothering may end up at our doorstep until they are ready to return to the wild. I teach needlework--of all kinds--for 4-H; and act as the recorder for Water District #6. In my spare time I design one-of-a-kind needlework projects. These may be counted cross stitch, felt appliqué, knitted, or sewn. I have made four wedding gowns and numerous bridesmaid dresses as well as many costumes and regular clothing. If you see me, I may have a book in my hand, a Sudoku puzzle, Cryptoquote, or crossword to do, my current knitting or cross-stitch project, and I have really gotten into my games on my personal Nintendo DS® that my children gave to me for Christmas. My computer is well used keeping up with my duties for the office; bills, payroll, taxes, spreadsheets. I have been asked whatever will I do when I retire, and I think I have quite a list of things to keep me busy! |