1924 – 2015

BRUNSWICK — Muriel Knowles passed away on Tuesday, April 7, in the manner in which she lived: strong, independent and peaceful.

Born Jan. 30, 1924, in Greene, Muriel commenced her life in education as a student in Greene’s one-room Morse School, where she attended kindergarten through eighth grade with her brothers and sisters. She graduated from Edward Little High School, attended Metropolitan Bible School, and graduated from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., with a degree in education in 1966. She earned her Master of Arts in education from Indiana University.

Muriel naturally changed roles from student to teacher and launched her 37-year teaching career at a Christian school on Lake Geneva, Wisc. She then moved to Potomac, Ill., when the school relocated, and she pursued a new teaching opportunity in Brownsville, Texas, in 1975.

She returned to Maine when her mother’s health declined and taught one year at Rumford High School, followed by a day position at Greene Central Elementary and evening math courses at the Lewiston Adult Education program. She retired at the age of 71.

Muriel was loved by her students because of her compassion, innovative teaching methods and high standards.

Throughout her teaching career, Muriel was an avid churchgoer and missionary, showing her love of people and garnering many cherished friends. She became known as the “Strawberry Lady,” due to her years of picking strawberries to support the work of the Church of the Nazarene in Leeds. She participated in five foreign mission trips, and her ability to speak Spanish proved helpful on several occasions.

In September 2007, Muriel moved to an apartment in Brunswick to be with her niece and nephew, Laurie and Doug DeCamilla. While in Brunswick, she made many new friends through Berean Baptist Church, Silver Sneakers and other community groups. Through all of life’s moves, her faith in Christ was her constant.

Muriel was predeceased by her parents, Ralph W. C. Knowles and Edith May Merrill Knowles Hodgkins Howe; and her siblings, Byron Knowles, Irma Bubier, Almeda Furbush and Ralph Knowles.

She is survived by her brother, Bernie Howe; brother-in-law, Kenneth Bubier; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews; and great-great-nieces and -nephews.

Memories and condolences can be expressed at www.brackettfuneralhome.com.

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