Mary A. McQuaid, 81, of Moline, passed away Monday August 28, 2017 at her home.

As Mary wished, her body has been cremated, and there will be a private graveside service and inurnment at Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island. Arrangements are entrusted to Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 7th Ave., Rock Island.

Mary Ann McQuaid was born March 29, 1936 in Rock Island, only child of Harold J. and Dorothy Lovett McQuaid. She was a 1953 graduate of Rock Island High School.

In 1957, she received her B.A. degree (summa cum laude) from Augustana College, Rock Island; in 1959 an M.A. degree on a university fellowship from University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and in 1978 an Ed.D. degree from Southeastern Nova University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She also did extensive graduate work at the University of Iowa. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Delta Kappa.

After 29 years of service, in 1991 she retired from Black Hawk College, Moline, as a professor in the English department. She had also been a Division Director of Developing Programs and Coordinator of Study Unlimited, a program that she developed. She had previously taught in Illinois and Iowa high schools.

Of the many distinctions that Mary had in her professional life, she was proudest of having served as a member of a Department of Energy committee on energy education during the Carter administration and of having served for two years as one of 200 members of the National Board of Consultants for the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Mary was equally proud of having been a charter member of the Black Hawk College Teacher's Union (AFT Local 1836) and having twice served as its president. She enjoyed her friends, her flowers, and her books.

Survivors include several cousins, and many friends, especially Suzanne Reamy, Hampton, Jayne Booth, Moline, and Gail Rung, Rock Island. She will be dearly missed.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents.