Linda GrosJacques

Linda Louise GrosJacques September 19, 1953 – April 27, 2026 Linda Louise GrosJacques was born on September 19, 1953, in Portland, Oregon, the eldest of five children born to Frank and Mary Belle GrosJacques. In 1957, her family moved to Corvallis when her father began teaching at Highland View Jr. High. They first settled on SW 5th Street, eventually moving to Sunset Drive in 1960. Growing up in a lively neighborhood full of kids, Linda and her four siblings—Nancy, Dennis, Ted, and Jennifer—were often outside playing and exploring. She attended Roosevelt and later Adams Elementary, famously walking to school along Highway 20 with the other neighborhood kids. Summers were spent in the fields north of town, where Linda and her sister Nancy would catch the 'Berry' or 'Bean' bus to go pick the season's crops. By the 1960s, Linda embraced the era's iconic style, often seen with her bouffant hair, black eyeliner, and a stylish dress. Following her graduation from Corvallis High School in 1971, she entered the workforce at the Brandis Benton Division in south Corvallis. It was a significant time in her life, as Kenny also worked there. It was during these early years that she would also develop a career as a caregiver in a local nursing home. She was naturally drawn to caring for the elderly and found a deep sense of purpose in looking after them with kindness. On September 4, 1976, Linda married Kenny McCormick. Their early years together saw them living on Tunison Street in Corvallis, where in 1978, Sarah Louise was born. In 1980, following a fire that destroyed the mill, the family moved to Seaside for a brief period. However, they soon returned to Corvallis and settled on Country Club Drive when Kenny took a position with Leading Plywood. In 1982 they welcomed their second child, Benjamin Lee. It was shortly after this return that Linda’s Daycare began. Though the marriage ended in 1987, Linda’s children remained the heart of her world. She owned and operated her daycare while Sarah and Ben were school-aged, later returning to various caregiving positions to continue working with the elderly. While her journey was not always easy and she faced her share of personal struggles, her love for Sarah and Ben remained her constant. Linda became a "Grammy" in September 2004 with the birth of her grandson, Jayden Charles, followed by her granddaughter, Shaylyn Benjamin, in May 2007. She loved her grandchildren dearly and enjoyed spending time with them often during their younger years. The year 2004 also marked the start of a very difficult season. In October, her 22-year-old son, Ben, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. After a hard-fought battle that included a stem-cell transplant, Ben passed away on July 24, 2005, at the age of 23. Through life’s struggles, Linda did not always make choices that were good for her or her family. She carried regret for those choices, and the effort to become the person she wanted to be stayed with her always. Even when times were hard, her family remained the most important thing to her; in her heart, she was always there for them. Her faith was a steady presence throughout, and she often sought God’s comfort, peace, grace, and forgiveness. Linda was always making something. She created many counted cross-stitch pieces over the years to give as gifts and had a real knack for making greeting cards. Her family and friends enjoyed them so much they often used them as decor in their own homes. She was also clever with a paintbrush, turning ordinary rocks into something lovely, and more recently, she had taken a special interest in buttons. She spent time sorting them all by color and hunting for unique antique ones to show off, and she was just beginning to use them in new artistic ways. Her family now has many of her creative pieces to remember her by. Coffee was Linda’s favorite food, and she always had a rich, dark cup ready for anyone who dropped by. She enjoyed conversation—with her daughter, grandchildren, siblings, cousins, and friends—she truly enjoyed hearing about what was going on in the lives of those she loved. Linda is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Josh Noble; her grandchildren, Jayden Noble and Shaylyn Noble; her siblings, Nancy Farris (Jeff), Dennis King (Laurie), Ted GrosJacques (Kelly), and Jennifer Price (Kari); and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her son, Ben McCormick, and her parents, Frank and Mary Belle GrosJacques. A Remembrance Gathering for Linda will be held on Saturday, July 18th, at 1:00 pm in the Fireside Room at Kings Circle Church (2110 NW Circle Blvd, Corvallis). All who knew her are welcome to attend. Light refreshments, desserts, and plenty of coffee will be served as we celebrate her life and memory.

Tributes

Linda GrosJacques

September 19, 1953 - April 27, 2026