Dorothy Jeaan Grier (née Whitcomb) was born October 4, 1922 in Hayden, Indiana. Dorothy married Herbert E. Grier on September 5, 1954. Herbert had two children from a previous relationship, Joan Arnold and Herbert Grier III. Together they had their son David L. Grier.
Grier has a bachelor of arts degree in English and philosophy.
During World War II, Grier was a secretary for the Air Inspector at the United States Air Force.
Grier was employed as a Technical Secretaary at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and worked various shiifts at the Nevada Test Site from 1951-1954.