Ethel (pronounced as: "Eethul") was born on May 13, 1887 to Benjamin Rufus Grinstead and Kate Amanda (nee Rugh) on a family farm near Azen in Scotland County Missouri.

On August 25, 1905 she married Perry Douglas. They were long time residents of Scotland County, Missouri.

She served for a time as "County Recorder" of Scotland County.

Ethel died on February 12, 1968 in Scotland County, Missouri and was buried at Prairie View Methodist Church Cemetery.