Stillwater, Okla. – From housekeeper to nurse, Dee Grimmett has worked diligently to improve her life and the lives of those she serves, all with the help of her Stillwater Medical Center team.

“We were thrilled to announce Dee as the Employee of the Year. She has worked here for nearly seven years and her story is heart warming,” said PR Director Shyla Eggers.

Grimmett said, “I started in Environmental Services and only planned to work a year after our oldest son left for college. I'm still here, and now my husband and two grown sons work here too!”

Inspired by a friend and coworker, Grimmett rekindled her dream to become a nurse and began researching area schools although she had no idea how she would find tuition resources, time and support to pursue the dream.

“In 2006, I was accepted to the nursing program at Northern Oklahoma College,” said Grimmett.  “I was awarded the Stillwater Medical Center Human Resources scholarship and was greatly encouraged by our HR team, which was a blessing that I am truly grateful for.”

HR Coordinator Shellee Catterton said, “We were just glad to see our scholarship programs and benefit packages going to great use to help this bright mother enrich her family – and give back to the hospital that values her efforts so much in the end. We all loved being involved in her great journey.”

Grimmett continued to work nights while attending nursing school. She accepted a position on the post surgical unit in February of 2008 and graduated from nursing school the following April.

Grimmett said she was recently awarded the Mary M. Randall Nursing Scholarship and received the Carolyn Williams Nursing Scholarship last year. Both scholarships have assisted her as she is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in nursing at the University of Arlington in Texas.

Her husband of 27 years, Lloyd, works on the facilities team in maintenance. Their son Brett works in Rehab Care and their son Chris works at Total Health, she said. 

In her spare time, Grimmett enjoys reading and is very active in her church, Mt. Zion Baptist. “I serve as a Deaconess, Chair of the Food Committee and I am a proud member of the gospel choir,” she said.

For a video about Grimmett, please visit www.Facebook.com/StillwaterMedicalCenter.

For more information about Stillwater Medical Center, please visit the newly redesigned Web site at www.StillwaterMedical.com.