Meet Your NeighborThe Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Meet Your NeighborMeet your neighbor, Mary Grace Carlson, of Rozetta.
Mary Grace has served as the Branch Manager/Loan Officer at Casey State Bank in Biggsville since January 2015.
She was born in Bridgeport (southeastern Illinois), the daughter of Steve and Cinda Bell. Mary Grace said she grew up on a grain and livestock farm, where she gained a passion for working with livestock.
She has one brother, S. Cooper Bell, who is married to Beverly, and lives in Sumner.
Mary Grace is married to Seth Carlson, a Henderson County native. They raise cattle and are actively involved in the swine industry.
They are the proud parents of 6 month old twin boys, Cunningham and Richmond.
Seth has three sisters and one brother, Jessica (Patton) Connour of Sheboygon, WI, Stephanie (Cale) Evans of Oquawka, Anna (Josh) Hinton of Kirkwood; Wayne Carlson, Monmouth, along with 9 nieces and nephews.
Throughout high school and part of college she worked at Bridgeport Grain, Inc., a local elevator. At SIU, she worked in the business office of University Farms and later served as the College of Ag's coordinator for alumni and community external relations.
Mary Grace graduated from Southern Illinois University, with a degree in Agriculture.
After college she worked at West Liberty State Bank in West Liberty, Iowa and then worked as a full time Agribusiness Instructor at Muscatine Community College in Muscatine, where she still serves on their Ag Advisory Board.
She attends Immanuel Baptist Church in Monmouth, where she helps teach the Wednesday night kid's program-Firehouse.
She loves teaching and working with children and is a foundation member of the Henderson County Kiwanis Club, where they strive to ensure Henderson County kids needs are met.
She also enjoys spending time outdoors, in the water, on the farm and riding 4 wheelers, plus time spent with her 3 dogs, Reagan, Hector, and Franklin.
In the future Mary Grace wants to continues serving the people of Biggsville and surrounding areas, not just as a loan officer and branch manager, but also as an advocate for kids and families alike; helping make Henderson County a place you can be proud to call home.
Mary Grace says, "Opportunity is often missed because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison. "I enjoy a good challenge."
Mary Grace also says, "I love going to work every day. I work with excellent people and for amazing customers.
"My appreciation for banking started when I was a kid.My grandparents would alternate giving their bowl of spare change to us grandkids, but only if we first counted it.
"I have a lot of good memories counting pennies. Later they let me fill in their deposit slips. When your are 10, that's big stuff!"
On the job as Branch Manager and as Loan Officer at Casey State Bank in Biggsville, Mary Grace says, "It's a personal favorite of mine to help someone buy a house and share in their excitement."