FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — For more than five decades, Mary Pavey, known simply as “Miss Peggy,” ensured that each Army Civilian Professional turned in their timecards and upheld the highest standards of conduct. Now, after 56 years of federal service, Pavey is retiring, and with her goes a deep well of institutional knowledge, consistency and kindness.
With a small sticky note in one hand and a pen in the other, Pavey moved through offices, checking that every timecard is accurate and signed. Her small stature and signature pearl necklace add to the charm of the side-eyed glance she delivers if the answer is “no.”
But Peggy’s impact extends far beyond timecards. She has been the calm, steady presence at Fort Leavenworth— a quiet professional who kept senior leaders on time, offices in order, and coworkers smiling with coffee and cookies.
“She’s the heartbeat of this building,” said Hilary Carbajal, command operations specialist for the deputy to the commanding general. “Her presence sets the tone for the entire day. Everyone feels it when she’s not in the office. She didn’t just help the team function; she made the workplace feel like home.”
Growing up in Leavenworth, Pavey’s life was built on discipline and faith. Her father managed the Enterprise Furniture Store on Delaware Street, working long hours to provide for their family, while her mother stayed home. Every morning, before heading to school at Immaculata High School, Peggy and her sister were dropped off at church for mass.
When college wasn’t an option financially, she turned to civil service. She had already proven her skills, placing fourth in a statewide high school typing competition using a manual typewriter. That ability helped her secure a position on post.
Her early days at Fort Leavenworth began in a GS-3 position at the commissary, but she quickly moved through various administrative roles, working in transportation, the Criminal Investigation Division, and the former Bell Hall. She typed lesson plans, processed classified documents, and managed schedules—all with precision and dedication.
“In the beginning, people didn’t pay much attention to me,” she recalled. “I was just 18 and didn’t know much. But over time, you gain knowledge.”
She joined the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center command group in 2009, where she became the first person everyone saw each morning — greeting visitors, managing schedules, and answering phones with a familiar, “Office of the Deputy to the Commanding General, this is Peggy.”
From manual typewriters to PCs, Pavey adapted across generations of tools and technologies. But some things never changed.
“She adapted,” said Lt. Gen. Milford H. Beagle Jr., commanding general of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center. “Many people don’t. But for over 56 years, her humility, her drive, her passion, and her empathy for people never changed.”
In addition to her administrative precision, Pavey was also known for keeping the office morale high through food. Cookies, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and breakfast sandwiches became meeting staples.
“Her sharp wit, unmatched work ethic, and well-timed snack drops have gotten us through more meetings than we can count,” said Gregg Thompson, deputy to the commanding general. “Peggy didn’t just keep the office running — she kept it caffeinated, fed and laughing. We’ll miss her deeply… and so will our waistlines.”
For her part, Pavey remained modest.
“I just care about what I do,” she said. “And I want to make sure I do it right.”
She isn’t quite sure what life will look like without Fort Leavenworth. She doesn’t have elaborate post-retirement plans but is considering volunteering at the local Council on Aging or Meals on Wheels. She admits that she will miss coming to work and seeing people.
“I just hope people remember that I did my job — and did it right,” she said. “That I helped where I could.”
“She did more than that,” Carbajal said. “She led by example, mentored quietly, and made people feel seen. Her legacy isn’t just what she did, but it’s how she made people feel.”
As Pavey starts her retirement in July, her impact will carry on. When asked what she wants to be remembered for, she pauses.
“Oh, they’ll probably forget about me after a while,” she says with a smile.
That’s not likely. Her old office was officially named Peggy Pavey Suite, which was announced at her retirement ceremony June 30. More importantly, ask anyone at Sherman Hall, and they’ll tell you: she is the reason timecards were always submitted correctly, the reason people felt at home, and the reason the workplace felt more like a community.
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