“The three walkers from the west," stated Clayton Stokes, a crossing guard at Watergrass Elementary, gazing across the street, "they're not on time today."
- Husband and wife Clayton and Lenora Stokes shared a second career
- The crossing guards retired together Friday
- They've been married for 50 years
For years Clayton and his wife, Lenora, have been keeping children safe while they wave to morning commuters. The pair has learned who to expect, what routes the walkers generally take, and which freckle-faced kids hop into what car.
"If they're a little late," added Lenora, "you start worrying, just like a mother hen."
The Stokes popularity made Friday, their last day as crossing guards, extra emotional.
“Who am I going to wave to every day," asked Greg Hayden, hugging them both. Hayden's children attend Watergrass.
For Clayton and Lenora though, their second career is only one chapter that's ending. Their story started more than 50 years ago.
“We were in high school together, Zephyrhills High School. Bull Dogs all the way," smiled Lenora. "Once a Bull Dog, always a Bull Dog."
They weren't quite high school sweethearts, but pretty close.
“He was a much older man, you see. He graduated in '60 and I graduated in '64."
It wasn't until a few years after high school, when Lenora bumped into Clayton at his job at the Stop-and-Shop, that their tale really began.
“And, I thought, 'I know him, that's Clayton," said Lenoa.
After they were married, Clayton was enlisted in the Air Force and was a firefighter in Zephyrhills, while Lenora worked at Saint Leo College. Now, the vivacious pair will have to adjust to retirement all over again.
“We'll miss the school, the kids, the parents, even the traffic, and even the 18-wheelers,” said Lenora. “Yeah, we'll miss it."