Grandpa served as the Sherman County commissioner, was on the Hazard school board and held other leadership roles during his adult life. Most people in the area knew him for his charisma and youthful nature. My grandma was more reserved and seemed to be the one who stayed out of the spotlight.  However, the roles reversed. Grandma, in her late 80’s, cared for my grandpa, also in his late 80’s, as his body and mind deteriorated from dementia. Grandma made the decisions and guided him in his life – when to eat next, when to shower, what to wear and eventually to send him to a nursing home, two years before his death in 2018. 

As I observed their changing relationship, I saw strength in my grandma, which I hadn’t recognized or appreciated before.

Though my grandpa was not the same man I admired as a child, my grandma was and still is the same woman, yet I now recognize her strength of character. I admire that she continued to live on the farm and take care of my grandpa as long she could. She has also stayed active in her household chores and social activities that she had done as a younger woman.  Because Grandma Grace didn’t get credit for the incredible work that she did as a younger woman, I chose to document her life in hopes to provide her long overdue recognition.  This documentary was an effort to ensure that her contributions to the world will never be forgotten or undermined by the equally reputable contributions made by men of their generation.