Ann Merz Grace, age 81, January 21, 2014. Ann was born in Philadelphia, PA, to Helen Lord and George Merz. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1954 (A.B., biology) and then moved to St. Louis where she obtained a Masters degree at Washington University. While in graduate school she met Richard (Bud) Harold Grace and married in 1956.

Throughout her life, Ann constantly sought out new activities in which to focus her never ending desire to stimulate her mind. During her undergraduate college years on the east coast, Ann worked summers at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory in Maine, interacting with prominent doctors and researchers. One person who impressed her tremendously was Dr. David Karnofsky, one of the founding fathers of chemotherapy. Ann started her formal career at St. Louis University as a biology laboratory lecturer in the early 1970s. After a few years of teaching, Ann moved into medical research. Ann got her start in laboratory research at the Veterans Hospital in St. Louis. Then, she worked many years within various departments at the Washington University Medical School complex. Ann ended her formal scientific career at Monsanto, but never stopped teaching or researching. During her retirement, Ann studied and grew cacti and succulents and became a participating member of the Henry Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society. Ann earned several awards at the society’s various club events. Also during her retirement, she proudly obtained a volunteer position at the Missouri Botanical Garden, helping to catalog rare plant species from South America. Over the years, Ann successfully contributed to a variety of scientific projects, achieving authorship on several scientific papers. Ann was an avid gardener, quilter, knitter, water color painter, stained glass artist, traveler, and had a deep love of music. The majority of Ann’s collection of cacti and succulents will be donated to the Henry Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society.

Ann is survived by her loving husband, Bud, three children, Thomas, Amelia, and Richard, a brother, George, and two cherished grandchildren, Matthew and Nicholas.

Following cremation at St. Louis Cremation, no immediate services were held. The family is planning to celebrate her life in the spring/summer at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Due to Ann’s love of plants, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Henry Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society (www.hscactus.org), the Missouri Botanical Garden (www.mobot.org), or other charitable organization. Ann will be sorely missed by family and friends.