| Biographical Profile |
I was born in Kansas City, MO and moved to Beverly Hills, CA when Sears, Roebuck & Co transferred my father to the Los Angeles Main Store as Controller when I was not quite 4. I attended Horace Mann Elementary School from kindergarten through eighth grade. It was during the seventh grade that I decided I wanted to be an accountant and that I wanted to attend Stanford University. I graduated from Beverly Hills High School having filled out my scheduled classes for 4 years as a freshman. You could take a business major at BHHS, and I did along with history, Spanish and English. I met John E. Laye when I was a freshman in high school and we married on December 23, 1955, after I finished college. I only applied to Stanford and spent two years as an English major there but transferred to UCLA as a junior to complete my business degree in the four years. While at Stanford I enjoyed making new friends and a wonderful learning experience. I joined Alpha Xi Delta Sorority at UCLA to get a stable place on campus to make new friends. I did get to play the piano for after dinner at Stanford and for entertainment at the sorority house. John was a Naval Aviator and an Officer for over twenty years and so after we wed, we travelled across the country several times to new assignments--always near the water. While we were in New Iberia, LA we had two children, Linda and then John Russell. We have been in Rhode Island, Washington DC, San Diego, Bremerton, WA, Monterrey, and the Bay Area. While he was stationed on the USS Ranger (a carrier) in Alameda we bought our home on Shawnee Lane in Orinda. When he retired at 42, we came back to our home here and have lived here ever since. I have worked for J Arthur Greenfield & Co in LA, Leo K Bates & Co. in San Diego, George Westenrider in Concord, Charles E. Kenney, CPA in Martinez, and Jeanne C. Laye, CPA since 1990. I broke my ankle on Mother’s Day and couldn’t drive to the office. I discovered my clients didn’t care where I worked from and so I have been self-employed ever since. I enjoy golf, bridge, puzzles, playing the piano, and generally being with people. I also love to travel. John and I did quite a bit of it after he left the military and I have continued since his passing. I am still an active CPA and on several committees for the California Certified Public Accountants as well as having served on their State Board as Vice President. I have been a member of the Scholarship Committee since its inception in 1985.
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