Linda McQuery
Grace Institute Bookkeeper
-Preferred-
503-331-8155 ext. 121
Born a long time ago, but in our very own galaxy, Linda McQuery, graduated from Jefferson High School, attended Portland State University and graduated from Oregon State University with a B.S. in Textiles and a minor in business and art. She also studied the violin for ten years and played in the Portland All-City Orchestra.
After college she worked for Lipman Wolfe & Co. as assistant buyer of cosmetics. She met and married her husband, Warren, and they have two grown boys and four grandchildren. An experienced “sports mom,” she served as PTA treasurer, graded papers and tutored math. While raising her children, she went through the chairs of the Eastern Star and served on its youth committee.
For fifteen years, Linda and Warren owned their own business for which she did the bookkeeping. She later took the time to take college classes in bookkeeping and computerized accounting. She then started her own business analyzing businesses accounting systems, transferring the businesses in QuickBooks from paper accounting, and training the business’s personnel to use computers for accounting. Over eight years she assisted approximately 50 small businesses, taking customers by referral only. (There was no need for advertising.) During this time she also accepted a half-time position at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Eugene as business manager. It was an active church with over a thousand baptized members and a preschool of about 60 students.
In 2004, Linda and Warren moved to Portland to be closer to their sons and their families, as well as her aging parents. In 2007, Linda accepted a position at Grace Memorial to do the bookkeeping for the church, Grace Institute and the Grace Memorial Episcopal Church Foundation. Along with Esme Culver and Mariann Koop-McMahon, she was responsible for supporting the growth the Grace Art Camp from five to seven weeks each summer. She is particularly proud of the fact that the expansion allowed Grace Art Camp to serve more families who wanted the chance for their children to attend camp.
After the 2011 camp, Linda tried to retire, but was convinced to help with the camp only one more year, and is now back in the office part time. In her “free time,” Linda and Warren attend her grandchildren’s games – and she quilts. (Impressively.) She also assists her father and mother-in-law who are in senior living facilities.
[Back]
