Have you noticed in some of her older pics she was wearing green sunglasses? That is something you normally see in someone with dyslexia... it's possible she was dyslexic and had difficulty in school which in turn led to the failing in 9th grade and dropping out... would also explain the difficulty reading contracts.
You are so detail oriented - thank goodness. I had not even considered the possibility.
ANS was probably not that complicated - being surrounded by "educated" people may have impressed or intimidated her - she seems to have had a complex personality - sometimes smartass, sweet and humble- generous - vicious - depending on the person describing her.
I think her mother probably knew her best.