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By Clyde Nielsen
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Raman and Meena Sharma were honored at a store reception on Wednesday, Feb. 17, on their last day as owners of the Chevron station at the mouth of the Spanish Fork Canyon on Highway 6.
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Many customers who have become close friends with the Sharmas came to wish them well in their new adventures, write notes in a book of remembrance and have a cookie.
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The Sharmas bought the station and store just 10 years ago on Jan. 18, 2006, and moved to Spanish Fork from Bakersfield, Calif. Raman had been working in California since 1988, when he moved to the USA from India to work with his brother.
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Raman and Meena were married in India in 1987 and have two children. When Raman came to the USA in 1988, Meena remained in India with their children. Meena and their children arrived in California in 1993 along with Grandpa and Grandma Sharma.
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Raman owned a gas station in Bakersfield for four years and sold it to buy the one in Spanish Fork. Although they don’t really love the snow in Utah, they are staying here because they like the people. They bought a home near the Chevron and have raised their two children here and have cared for Grandpa and Grandma. Grandma Sharma passed away two years ago, and Grandpa came to the station most days, sitting in a chair watching people come and go at the station. Their son recently graduated from law school in Michigan and will be taking the Utah Bar exam soon. He works in the office of the attorney general for the state of Utah. Their daughter just graduated from Utah Valley University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and has accepted a position in Washington, D.C.
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So, it is time for the Sharmas to take a well-earned break; they have been the cashiers from early morning until late at night seven days a week for 10 years with very little extra help. That adds up to 50 to 60 hours a week for each of them. They have hired some local boys to do the cleaning chores in the evenings. Raman and Meena have made a positive difference in our community and to our country.
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The Chevron Corporation bought the business from the Sharmas and reopened it on Feb. 18 under new management.
