1906 ~ 2004
      The world has lost a most unusual lady. At the age of 97 1/2 (She would want you to know!) Grace McCullough Backman passed away at the Crestwood Care Center in Ogden, Utah. At 1:15 a.m. on May 15 she quietly slipped away. She suffered an aortic aneurysm on April 18, and has been somewhat active but bedridden since then.
      Friends and relatives had spent the afternoon with her. Her youngest son Rod had driven from Seattle to be with her. It seemed that Grace had hung on until he arrived.
      Her granddaughter, Robyn Leary Mancini, had flown in from New York, but sadly missed being with Grace by just an hour.
      Joan, Grace's oldest daughter had brought Eddie Hoagland, a life long friend (Grace was Eddie's matron-of-honor at her wedding in 1927) to visit with Grace that afternoon.
      Mitzi Vinson, a niece of Grace's, had spent the afternoon and many previous afternoons with her. Daughters Jill and Carol had also visited recently as did daughter-in-law Toshiko Backman.
      Grace was the daughter of Edna (Chugg) and John Samuel Morris McCullough.
      John was a grocery store owner in Salt Lake City, back in the days of family-owned stores, a very colorful and respected man in his own right.
      Grace's husband, Ralph Backman, a prominent Utah educator, was principal of South High School in Salt Lake City for many years, an instructor at the University of Utah, and an administrator at Westminster College in Salt Lake City.
      The wives of Salt Lake City school administrators formed the Aurora Club in the 1930s. Grace was a proud and devoted member of that group for 70 years. She attended her last meeting at the Lion House in February of this year.
      Grace felt a particular pride and "ownership" in Big Cottonwood Canyon east of Salt Lake City. She had camped and hiked in that canyon every year since she was a small child. The reminiscences she shares with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends, of her adventures in those beautiful mountains would fill volumes.
      Grace has traveled extensively with family members and friends. Most of her trips were "usual" but many of them were extraordinary. The retelling of these unusual trips will go on in the family for many years. She has been to all parts of the United States, but also Canada, Mexico, Japan, England and Wales.
      Another note of biographical significance, Grace was an ardent card player. She played sophisticated Bridge in Bridge Clubs for years. She played friendly games of Panguingue, Pinochle, Canasta, and others, often with her many friends. Her Poker playing was legendary. She played fun games with her grandkids and other children. Scrabble was a favorite game of hers, and she played it and card games with her grandson Ked and niece Mitzi, the last days of her life.
      Grace's death is going to leave a void in the lives of many, many friends and family members. We will greatly miss her extraordinary wit and intelligence.
      A memorial will be planned and announced at a later date.
      Her surviving children are daughters: Joan (Jim) Kirkham, Carol Munro, Jill (Earl) Jones, and son Rod Backman. Another son Mac Backman preceded her in death.
      Contact any of her children for information on the memorial.