ABC 17 family shares personal connections to Alzheimer’s disease
Meghan Drakas
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
ABC 17 News Anchor Meghan Drakas is sharing her family’s experience and other members of the ABC 17 family with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in the leadup to Jefferson City Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The event was originally scheduled for Saturday, but has been canceled due to impending weather. The organization will hold another event in December.
Barbara Early was born in 1938 in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She was a wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker, secretary and life of the party.
Undated photo of Barbara Early [Drakas Family]
“She was one of those people that, she walked into the room and she just kind of lit up the room,” said her daughter, Susan Drakas.
Barbara was one of the millions of Americans to experience Alzheimer’s firsthand. Today, more than 7 million Americans and 122,000 Missourians live with the disease — a number expected to hit nearly 30 million in another 25 years. The costs of long-term dementia care will reach nearly $1 trillion by 2050.
Join ABC 17 News at the Jefferson City Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday at Dwight T. Reed Stadium on Lincoln University’s campus. ABC 17 Stormtrack Chief Meteorologist Jessica Hafner will emcee this year’s walk. Last year, the Jefferson City Walk raised over $65,000. This year, the walk has a goal of $90,000.
As of Thursday, the Jefferson City walk had raised over $64,000, and the Columbia Walk to End Alzheimer’s has raised over $154,000 with a goal of $160,000. Donations will be accepted until the end of the year.
Barbara Early
Susan Drakas described her caring mother as a great cook who always made the holidays special for the family.
“It was a happy home,” Susan said. “She kept a beautiful, happy home. Her family was her priority.”
Robert Early, Susan Early, Barbara Early, Eugene Early, Susan Drakas and Joe Drakas in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 14, 2016. [The Drakas Family]
Her son, Robert Early recalled his mother’s laugh, which sparked joy to everyone around her.
“It was kind of infectious,” he said. “Where others would pick up on that and enjoy themselves even more, I think.”
He noted that growing up, he was not always on his best behavior and was reminded to remember his manners.
“If she said it once, she probably said it ten million times,” Robert said. “She was a very loving mom and always wanted us to be on our best behavior, but of course, I always used to test the limits.”
Years later, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2013, when she was 75 years old. She spent the last nine years of her life battling the disease.
“The last couple years, you know, it’s like she was not really there,” Susan said. “She was there, but she wasn’t there because of this horrible disease; it was a long goodbye.”
On Jan. 14, 2021, she lost her battle to the disease at her home in Souderton, Pennsylvania, surrounded by her loved ones.
Barbara was married to her husband, Eugene Early, for 58 years. They were set up by mutual friends on a blind date and met in 1961. They got engaged on Christmas Eve in 1962 and were married in October 1963.
Eugene and Barbara Early at Robert Early’s wedding in May 1997. [The Drakas Family]
“There’s a lot of memories, like any marriage, you had your ups and downs, but we had more ups than downs,” Eugene Early said.
He touched on the difficulties of seeing his partner in life going through the gradual decline with Alzheimer’s disease.
“It wasn’t pleasant seeing her suffer the way she did,” Eugene said. “It was rough.”
Going through this journey with his wife of nearly six decades, he reinforced an important life lesson.
“You take life one day at a time, and enjoy it while you have it because it goes by so fast,” Eugene said.
Edwin Kammerich
ABC 17 News creative services director Mark Kammerich lost his father, Edwin, to Alzheimer’s in 2016. Mark remembers his father as always being there to help out when he needed advice.
Edwin, Mark and Joan Kammerich [Submitted by Mark Kammerich]
Kammerich said his dad helped others by sharing his time and talent for a variety of repairs, including appliances such as small engines and clocks. In addition, Kammerich said his father volunteered his time for Meals on Wheels, The Steam Engine Association and as a 4-H leader.
Sarah Carpenter
Production assistant Jerry Handley lost his grandmother, Sarah, to dementia in 1979. Handley said he remembers his grandmother as loving and always keeping her hands busy while making quilts. He said he cherishes a quilt made by his grandmother, which he still has today. He added that she loved to care for all of her grandchildren.
Jerry Handley’s grandmother, Sarah Carpenter, pictured with Jerry’s niece, Marsha. [Submitted by Jerry Handley]
Handley said when he was in college, he would sometimes have lunch with his grandmother. He said that during that time, she was showing signs of dementia. He recalled a traumatic story that she would share from roughly five decades prior in West Virginia, where she lived with her family along Rock Creek. Because of flash flooding, her family had to evacuate their home and watch it float downstream.
Yvonne Hayes
ABC 17 reporter Olivia Hayes lost her grandmother in 2020 to dementia. She says her grandmother dealt with dementia for years, but saw the biggest change after her Paw Paw died.
Natalie Hayes, Ethan Hayes, Yvonne Hayes and Olivia Hayes in 2020 [Submitted by Olivia Hayes]
This photo of Olivia, her two siblings and Maw Maw was taken the last time they saw her. Olivia Hayes said on this trip, her grandmother shared the most vivid memories of her young life. She said each day they saw their Maw Maw, she had the biggest smile on her face.
Helen Miller and Patricia ‘Patty’ Kempf
Business analyst/HR coordinator Donna Farmer lost her grandmother, Helen Miller, to Alzheimer’s on Dec. 31, 2004. Farmer says she battled the disease for over seven years. She said her grandmother lost her husband in World Ward II, when Farmer’s mother was 5 years old, and she raised her two daughters by herself.
Undated photo of Helen Miller [Submitted by Donna Farmer]
Farmer lost her mother, Patricia ‘Patty’ Kempf, on April 14, 2025. She says her mother was diagnosed with advanced dementia but was able to live at home with her father until she died. Farmer says her family believes her mother was Patrick Mahomes’ biggest fan, and she enjoyed watching game shows and sports.
Undated photo of Patricia Kempf [Submitted by Donna Farmer]
Farmer says her grandmother and mother were remarkable women who cared for their families. She says both women treated their families with respect and admiration. Farmer said this illness takes a toll on loved ones caring for them, and it takes a lot of patience and understanding.
Joseph Drakas, Susan Drakas and ABC 17 News Anchor Meghan Drakas at the Columbia Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Oct. 4, 2025