Mary Ann Grater was born into a minister's home. She grew up in Nebraska and was a member of one of the last classes made available in Normal Training, which was to prepare teachers to teach in country schools. At seventeen years of age, she began teaching thirty students. There were some in every grade, beginners through eighth grade. She began her college education with a double major: Speech to work in the church in the area of theater, and Health/Physical Education to work for monetary support. She received her BA in 1955. She married and gave birth to three children. When the youngest wen...