ISLAMORADA -- Melba E. Nezbed, manager of Windley Key, Indian Key and Lignumvitae Key state parks, recently retired from the Florida Park Service after 35 years.

Her replacement has not been chosen yet.

Nezbed was honored with a retirement party by the Friends of the Islamorada State Parks, a community service organization that provides support to the local state parks.

Nezbed joined the Florida Park Service in 1978 as a park ranger at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Shortly thereafter, she was chosen to fill one of the two ranger position at the new Indian Key state park. After several years on Indian Key, Nezbed was promoted to a park specialist and assistant park manager.

In 2005 she was named park manager of the Lignumvitae, Indian and Windley Key state parks and the San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve.

Before joining the Florida Park Service, Nezbed served as a crew member on Windjammer Barefoot Cruises and was one of the 15 crew members to serve on the Yankee Trader after completing the 11.5-month journey to ports of call in Bora-Bora, Tahiti, Singapore, New Guinea and elsewhere.