Gave up her dreams to be an actress after she and her husband Rance Howard moved to New York to pursue an acting career. She became the family breadwinner by becoming a typist for CBS.
Studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York before being hit by a truck forcing her return to Oklahoma after coming out of a coma after 10 days.
Dropped out of the University of Oklahoma with her soon to be husband Rance Howard to pursue their acting dream.
Met her future husband Harold Beckenholdt (Rance Howard) in drama class at the University of Oklahoma when paired with him in a two-person scene study by elder classman Dennis Weaver.
After moving to NYC with her husband to pursue an acting career she worked at Macy's at the perfume counter and at the Copacabana as a hatcheck girl.
Graduated from Duncan High School in Duncan, Oklahoma where she was President of her class.