In 1959, the Mussers started jobs that would turn out to be lifetime commitments.
Priscilla Musser joined the laboratory staff at Munson Medical Center in June of that year. After marrying his high school sweetheart three weeks later, Ray began at the hospital — in the kitchen — in December.
Last month, nearly six decades later, the couple officially retired after a career in a field that looks little like it did when they began. Nowadays, a college degree is required for their work, which they learned on the job as high school graduates.
Staff members from the lab and throughout the hospital gathered Thursday afternoon to celebrate the couple's combined 90 years of service and bid them a fond farewell.
"Not only have they been here for all these years but they've been able to bend and mold with the changes,” said Dr. Terry Whalen, technical director of Munson Medical Center's lab.
"Everybody in the laboratory is going to miss the two of you,” he continued, lauding Priscilla's wisdom and Ray's can do attitude. "You're just really solid people.”
Dr. John Keep, medical director of the lab, added: "For the pathologists and I also speak on behalf of the physicians who were not pathologists, we're the ones who relied on your work all those days, all those nights and all those weekends.”
From a dollar an hour pay to washing glass wear to sharpening needles on a whetstone and sterilizing equipment in an autoclave, times have changed in the lab. Ray, who began working half time there soon after starting at Munson, had to overcome faintness at the sight of blood to become a phlebotomist
"I think my biggest enjoyment was seeing the patients every day, even though we had to draw their blood,” said Ray, a native of Mancelona. "I've seen a lot of people come and go.”
Ray also tested and fixed instruments, a task suited to a farm boy just on equipment of a smaller scale. He adapted and added to his knowledge over the decades as the equipment steadily grew more complex and automated. Today's standard of robots and bar code technology in the lab is a far cry from doing everything meticulously by hand.
"It's been pretty exciting learning all the new things, like when the robotics stuff came in,” he said, reflecting on his career.
Priscilla, who with Ray raised four children during their shared careers, has slightly fewer years of service than her husband because of maternity leaves. She and Ray juggled shifts and vacations for years as they raised their family: adjusting their work hours so that one covered morning duty at home and the other the afternoon.
"It's been an exciting place to work, a fun place to work — good people,” said Priscilla, who also grew up on a farm but in Alba.
"I just enjoyed the work,” she added of her duties in microbiology. "I already miss it.”
The couple, who also have 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, plan to enjoy their garden and spend more time at their cottage on Otsego Lake.
"We like all seasons,” noted Ray. "I have a nice big garden with different things, like strawberries.”