Staff writer
The last remaining jewelry store in Marion County will close its doors Saturday after 30 years. Bev Schorr, owner of Flint Hills Gold in Marion, is retiring and moving to Colorado.
“I’ve loved it,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed the variety. In addition to regular diamond rings and wedding sets, we’ve done many unusual things, everything from a gold symbol to fish wedding rings. We made a few elk-tooth rings and pendants.”
People came from all over the country to order custom-made jewelry or to recycle gold and stones into treasured memorabilia. She once sold a pair of custom-made wedding rings to a couple in Alaska.
Sandy Rawald has worked with Schorr for almost 29 years as “bench jeweler,” or jewelry designer. She said the business operated “old school and personal,” and without the aid of a computer.
Rawald is sad to see Schorr go. Her own future is uncertain. She said she enjoyed the challenge of repairing things that customers thought had no hope of being restored.
“I appreciated all of my customers,” Schorr said. “It’s been interesting. You never knew who might show up from day to day.”
She plans to retire at Canon City, Colorado.
“My Kansas relatives all are planning to visit,” she said with a smile.
She plans to sell the building, which includes her upstairs apartment.