Pam's life was going well until her husband was stricken with cancer a few years later. She sometimes missed several months of work at a time to travel with her husband for cancer treatments. Never once did she miss a paycheck from the Vletas. "They were like another set of parents," McCombs said, eyes filling with tears. "The whole time, the Vletas were right there with me."

Ulimately, Pam McCombs (then Goble) was left a widow. "When my husband died, my main concern was: How was I going to make a living?" She said. There was no question that the Vletas' mind about that. Her job was waiting for her when she emerged from the darkness of her husband's death. George and Martha Vletas said Pam is"like our own daughter".

Perhaps it's no surprise, then that McCombs inherited the business with financial assistance in the form of business loans from the Small Business Administration, First Financial Bank of Abilene and the Vletas.

Candies by Vletas moved to its current location on North 1st Street in 1999, about the time the Vletas were preparing for retirement. Their four daughters had not expressed interest in owning the business, but McCombs had. The Vletas had offers from several buyers, but each wanted to change the business more than the couple could stand. Pam wanted to keep the Vletas' tradition. Within months, the business was hers.

"The most gratifying thing through all of this was when Mr. Vletas came in after I bought the store," McCombs said. He saw she had rearranged some things and said " This store looks so good. I am so proud of you." Then he grinned and asked, " Why didn't you do this stuff when you worked for me?"

McCombs' hopes of owning the store were not just her own. "It's a dream I always had," George Vletas said. "It's in very good hands." Pam says owning Candies by Vletas has provided a way for her to earn a living for herself and her two daughters. "It's such a blessing," she said. "I thank God every morning and numerous times during the day and in the evening before I go to bed."