DEERFIELD — With nearly three decades total in municipal experience and more than 20 years in Deerfield, Friday marked the end of a longstanding public servant’s career.

Deerfield Town Administrator Kayce Warren has officially said goodbye to the town in which she worked for nearly a quarter of a century, as she is retiring for health reasons.

“I have always had a very special place in my heart for Deerfield. Always,” Warren said in an interview in her office on her penultimate day. “It’s very hard for me to even consider leaving, but I have to take care of myself.”

The Selectboard will meet on Sept. 11 to discuss the steps needed to post the job vacancy and put together a search committee “as quickly as possible,” according to Selectboard Chair Tim Hilchey.

“I’d, again, like to thank her for all her years of service to the community,” Hilchey said.

Warren began her municipal career working with the Sunderland Police Department and joined Deerfield — for the first time — as an administrative assistant in 1999. From there, she worked her way up the ranks to interim town administrator in 2014 before being named to the permanent position. Warren took a brief break from 2016 through 2020 when she served as Ashfield’s town administrator before returning to Deerfield in early 2020.

In her years of service to Deerfield, Warren has seen numerous town projects commence and all sorts of change to the community. She highlighted projects as low-profile as sidewalk replacements on North Main Street to planting the seeds of the South Deerfield revitalization plan, which officially kicked off this summer with construction on the Leary Lot starting after “many, many years.”

“Deerfield is building resources to better serve the community,” she said. “And seeing all that come to fruition, I’ll see it from the outside, but I’ll be pleased to see it happen.”

Of course, there were difficult days, too. Government, Warren said, often moves at the speed of molasses and it can be hard to please every single resident. Despite these challenges, she said public service is a fulfilling endeavor in which you can see the impact of your work on your neighbors and your town.

“Town government is not an easy thing,” Warren said, “but it is the first line of democracy in this country and it’s a valuable thing.”

As she steps away from Deerfield professionally, Warren said the door is open to volunteering around town, perhaps at Tilton Library, although she said she is a little apprehensive about joining a board, at least right away, because she is trying to “disconnect” from the town. On the personal end, her health is her top priority, as well as spending more time with her family and friends.

“[I want to] reconnect with friends and family, and find some space to feel more like a connected person,” Warren said. “I tend to hyper-focus on work and I can’t do it anymore. I’ve got to be better to myself.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.