Grace Augusta Hotson Shields was born on October 6, 1926, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Clarence Paul Hotson and Cornelia Robb Hinkley Hotson, the second of five children.  Her older sister, Eleanor, tragically died of diphtheria at the age of four so at age one and a half, Grace became the oldest child in the family and much cherished by her parents.  Grace's early life was marked by many moves during The Great Depression, a time when her family struggled, as many did, to make ends meet.  In 1929-1930 the family lived in Minneapolis near the University of Minnesota where her father worked in the English department.  On January 25, 1930, the family welcomed their first son, John Hargrove Hotson.  In the summer of 1930 the family moved to Lubbock, Texas where they lived until 1932.  Caroline Ruth Hotson (later Sullivan) was born in Lubbock on December 25, 1931.  The Hotsons moved from Lubbock to Talcot Gulch, Green Mountain Falls, Colorado in July 1932, where they lived a pioneer existence in a primitive cabin.  This was Grace's favorite area of all the many places she lived.  In October 1934 they moved to Colorado Springs as Cornelia Hotson was expecting a baby.  Donald Leslie Hotson was born at Colorado Springs Hospital on February 25, 1935.

Grace often said each of her siblings had their personality the day they were born.  She remembered John Hargrove as a little baby with a bottle wearing a troubled expression as if having a hard day.  Caroline came into the world beaming, "Here I am!"  When the children first came in to view baby Donald, he gave them a condescending glance as if asking, "Who are these people?"

As an adult Grace often told her children stories about her childhood and funny anecdotes about her siblings.  For instance, her mother gave up on spanking the children (a common parental tool in the day and one that Grace did not subscribe to in raising her own children, apparently to her husband's chagrin).  She and Grace would both become so angry they would forget what it was all about.  John Hargrove would be funny and make her laugh.  Caroline was so sneaky she could never catch her at anything.  Donald was so tough that no matter how hard she hit him he would just say, "Ouch?"  The only way she could get through to Donald was to threaten to punish the cat.

The family was very poor during the Depression.  Once during the holidays they had only split pea soup and their mother said they were lucky to get that.  About once a year a relative would send a new dress, at least to Grace.  Caroline possibly wore her hand me downs.

Grace was highly intelligent and a great reader who always knew the answers in school.  She skipped the third grade due to her spelling ability, picking up such monikers as "Vocabulary" and "Encyclopedia." She was not looking forward to attending summer camp with some of the girls who branded her with such names.  Just at the right time she came down seriously ill and as she lay in bed rejoicing a lady came by and said, "Disappointments in childhood are so hard to bear."  Perhaps this is where she got the idea to feign illness when she didn't feel like going to physical therapy in the last few years.  Later she would giggle about how she "faked it" and got away with it.

In 1940 the Hotsons moved to High Street, Dorchester, Massachusetts, and Grace attended Girls' Latin School, the first college preparatory school for girls, in Boston.  On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service.  Every American old enough always remembered exactly where they were when they heard the news.  It being a Sunday, the Hotsons were listening to a classical Sunday radio concert when it was announced.  Clarence, although a pacifist in the first World War, felt that America should help England and was delighted when they joined the war.  In celebration he took Donald to a showing of Sergeant York.

In 1942 the family moved to Northfield, Vermont, where Clarence taught at Norwich University, then to Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania (near Philadelphia) and Bethayres, Pennsylvania, both in 1944.  In 1943-1944 Grace had the opportunity to attend Madeira School in Greenway, Virginia, while living with her Uncle John Leslie and Aunt Mary Peabody Hotson.  In the fall of 1944, she entered the Academy of the New Church Girls' School in Bryn Athyn where she graduated high school in 1945.

As a young adult, Grace was a real city girl, traveling mostly by train.  She moved to Baltimore, Maryland where she worked as an Occupational Therapist in the aftermath of WWII, when there was a great demand for occupational therapy for wounded soldiers, helping the injured to rehabilitate with various activities including crafts.  During this time she crafted jewelry.

She was in Deerfield, New Hampshire, in 1947 when the local minister, Robert W. Shields, put on a lavish Bible pageant in which Grace and her mother worked on costumes and makeup and Grace also appeared.  Grace finished college in Bryn Athyn with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1957 and went on to teach Kindergarten and First Grade at a church school in Glenview, Illinois (outside Chicago).  The Rev. Robert William Shields had become close friends of the family.  He proposed marriage when Grace was visiting her parents in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado.  They were married in Green Mountain Falls on August 20, 1960, and went to live in Kennewick, Washington, where Robert, who was a teacher as well as an ordained minister, had secured a position teaching English at Kennewick High School.

While living on Hartford Street in Kennewick, the Shieldses welcomed three girls, Cornelia Margaret Ada, and Heidi Elizabeth and Klara Katherine, identical twins.  Grace was very welcoming to neighborhood children and made a nice environment for her daughters' friends, including staging an outdoor play of "Hansel and Gretel" in which the twins appeared as angels and Cornelia as Gretel, and also performances the children gave indoors, which proved magical for them.  She frequently read stories aloud which was particularly enjoyed by Cornelia.  Having had few toys as a child, Grace was very generous with toys, particularly dolls and model horses.  They lived there until July 4, 1969, when they moved to Oak Street in Dayton, Washington, where Robert Shields also taught high school English as well as running a literary business. As noted by Klara, her mother was very understanding and compassionate when Klara feigned illness to avoid school and her (infamous) first grade teacher, "Mrs. M" while Heidi gleefully skipped to school daily to be greeted by the grandmotherly Mrs. Kunkle.

Grace Shields, who had a beautiful soprano voice and sometimes sang solo, was active in the church choirs of the First Congregational and First Christian Churches in Dayton, as well as the local Garden Club.  She also taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.  She was good humored and well loved by many.  Miriam Davis, the "Jersey Girl" who predeceased Grace by a short time, was a lifelong neighbor on Oak Street and a great friend; they had their own secret society as city girls living the country life in Dayton.

Grace remained in her house on Oak Street until her last day on this earth and passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 17, 2024, at the age of 97, having lived longer than any member of her family.  She is survived by her three daughters, four grandchildren, Edith (Andrew Eubanks) and Josh Dull, Henry and Lee Hicks, and sons-in-law Dr. James Dull and Gregory A. Hicks.  Grace was a beloved aunt to her 13 nieces and nephews and their children (25 great nieces and nephews and 17 great-great nieces and nephews) and has a great grandchild due in September 2024.

Grace received excellent care at home from Cindy Harney and her daughter Michelle and was particularly fond of Michelle's daughter Grace.  The family very much appreciated the senior meals delivered by the Columbia County Senior Citizens Center and Grace looked forward to the "lunch lady's" arrival on those days and their cheerful greetings.  The Physical Therapy Department at Columbia County Health System/Dayton General Hospital maintained a fun and nurturing environment which enabled Grace to have her best life quality up until the moment she boarded the train to her final destination.

A Celebration of Life is set for Monday, May 27, 2024, beginning at 11 a.m. at the United Brethren Church, 1106 South Fourth Street, Dayton, Washington. Feel free to wear purple, Grace's favorite color.

If you would like to make a donation in Grace's honor, please consider the The Physical Therapy Department at Columbia County Health System/Dayton General Hospital, Congregational Church and United Brethren Church.