Age 90. Died at the Hospice Care Center in Longview, WA. Grace was born to Charles and Elizabeth Shannon. Her husband of 63 years, Jim, passed away in November of 2001. After moving to Vancouver, WA in 1963 from Longview, where they had lived since 1940, Grace returned to live with her daughter in Kelso, WA in 2002. Grace will be remembered for her years of dedication to helping make the lives of the developmentally disabled and their families better in both Clark and Cowlitz counties. She and Jim were instrumental in the start up of Progress Center and Applied Industries in Longview, and the beginning of Special Education in Longview schools. They were also instrumental in the formation of the ARC of Cowlitz County. Grace received many honorary awards for her dedication, including the "Distinguished Parent" International award from TASH, the association for persons with severe handicaps in 1991. This is an international award, picking only eight people from around the world each year. In 1993, she received a Women of Achievement award from the YWCA and Clark College in Vancouver. Many, many awards came her way during 50 years of advocacy for the disabled. She never sought such recognition, she only wanted to help those she cared so much about. After retirement, Grace and her husband formed AARP Chapter #935 in Vancouver. She served as secretary for many years, and served a two-year term as president. She received special recognition from the State AARP for her outstanding leadership skills in AARP. Grace will also be remembered for her culinary skills, especially her cookies and yeast breads, and her ability to teach these skills to disabled students. She is survived by a son, Charles Gould of Tacoma; two daughters, Ellen Mae Gould of Vancouver and Shannon and her husband, Ron "Steve" Baker of Kelso, WA; a grandson, Curt and his wife, Dana Williams of Kelso; a granddaughter, Brenna Williams of Kelso; three stepgreat-grandchildren; and the light of her life, her great-grandson, Conner James Williams of Kelso.