Muriel Marie Wilson

Muriel "Merle" Marie (nee Napier) Wilson was a devoted and doting wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. In an interview several years ago, recorded by one of her granddaughters, that is how she wanted to be remembered. Indeed, she will. She left a warm feeling in the hearts of everyone with whom she was associated.

Muriel died on February 3, 2024, at the age of 93, peacefully in her bed at her home in Alpine Way, aided by the competent and compassionate staff at Alpine Way and the Providence Home Hospice team.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold, in 2018 and her younger sister Janice Neath just three months earlier. Muriel is survived by three sons: Bruce (Sylvia), Brad (Marty), Brian (Bobbie), and one daughter, Brenda Dehning (Brent). Also surviving are four nieces and a nephew, 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, soon to be 23. Her two eldest nieces, Pam and Jodi, were treated like daughters and consider Muriel as their second mom.

Muriel was born April 12, 1930, in Sioux City, Iowa and spent the first 12 years in Sloan, Iowa, moving to the Pacific Northwest as an early teenager. Muriel graduated from Shelton High School and married her high school sweetheart, Harold Wilson, in 1948. She spent several years, while raising a young family, studying at Olympic College in Bremerton, WA.

Muriel and Harold were pillars of the Shelton community for their entire adult lives. They were bonded in love and marriage for 70 years. In retirement, they made the most of extended winter stays at their Maui home. Muriel was an avid traveler, declaring New Zealand as her favorite because of the friendly people and spectacular scenery.

In addition to her devotion to her family, Muriel was passionate about helping others. She was a charter member of Chapter GQ of the P.E.O. Sisterhood in Shelton where she worked tirelessly to raise scholarship funds to help women advance through education, be it high school graduates, PhD candidates, or women planning to re-enter the workforce after raising their families. She also was an active member of a local hospital guild whose mission was to provide financial support for patients and research for Seattle Children's Hospital. Muriel was a compassionate volunteer for the local hospice team when she was younger. Her involvement with Shelton First Baptist Church was a comfort to her. Muriel was also proud of her "Master Recycler" status where she educated the community and promoted green recycling practices. More recently, she was also a foundation contributor to the YMCA recently constructed in Shelton.

Up until just 15 years ago, Muriel was an avid hiker, rarely missing the weekly walks with her "Walkie-Talkie" group, often accompanied by members of her extended family. One of her last hikes was with several grandchildren in tow, crossing the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge just before its opening. Her grandchildren repeat funny stories to this day of many adventures on those hikes.

Muriel's dying wish was that the family remains close. For decades the family, through the leadership of Muriel and Harold, gathered the extended family for annual summer picnics at their home on the shores of Hood Fjord and, in more recent years, in spirited games at annual family Christmas gatherings. For her, these gatherings inculcated the importance of family values across four generations. Muriel especially rejoiced watching and holding her twenty-two great-grandchildren at those times. Indeed, her last days were brightened upon the daily arrival of her newest great grandchild, 16-month-old Ryen, who showered her with hugs and kisses.

Though she will be deeply missed by all, her spirit and her legacy will live on through her devoted family.

A celebration of her life will be planned for later this spring or summer. In lieu of flowers, Muriel requested that donations be made to the Seattle Children's Hospital or the Shelton Family YMCA.