Muriel Alger

Muriel Alger went to be with her Lord on Dec. 19, 2017. She succumbed to conditions caused by a stroke suffered on Sept. 9, 2017.

Born in Neilton Wash. on June 22, 1927, to John and Sofie (Rudd) Pugh, Muriel had 3 sisters, Madeline Brooks, Millie Hammond and Mary Ellen Peterson. All preceded her in passing. Raised in Cosmopolis, Wash., she considered herself a “Cozzy Girl” until she died. Muriel graduated from Weatherwax High School in 1946.

In Oct. 19, 1946, Muriel married her life-long mate, Bill (William A. Alger Jr.). They met at a dance at The Moose Club in Aberdeen. They lived their entire lives together in the Aberdeen area. In 1954, Bill built Muriel a house on Bel Aire and they turned that house into a home, raising their niece Shirley, and two sons, Bill (William A. Alger III) and John.

Muriel and Bill traveled extensively. They RV’ed all over the United States. They cruised the Caribbean, Alaska Inside Passage and Panama Canal. They vacationed in Hawaii and visited England, Europe and Japan. In 1996, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Bill passed away in 2004. Muriel however, continued traveling; white-water rafting in Oregon, touring New York, and taking a mystery tour, that surprisingly, (as any good mystery tour should be), explored Michigan.

Muriel loved hot air balloons! She collected all manner of memorabilia and twice rode the skies over Western Washington, most recently in 2014, at age 87, during the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Sequim. She also loved playing pinochle at the Aberdeen Senior Center with her girlfriends. You could hear the excitement in her voice when she reported getting a thousand aces or winning top prize.

Muriel had long been an active member of her beloved First Presbyterian Church of Aberdeen. She was continuously involved in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary from the 1950s, when she was Post President, right up until her death. The annual VFW Auxiliary State Convention is in June, so she always celebrated her birthday with her VFW sisters. A member of the Aberdeen Eagles’ Aerie, Muriel was involved for years in REAC, Camp Club and Bingo. In 1990, she served the Aberdeen Pioneer Association as President. Muriel worked as a long-time volunteer for the Red Cross Blood Bank and the Grays Harbor Elections Committee. Many an election day was spent on a cold, hard, metal folding chair at the Miller Junior High polling station. Notably, Muriel served in the Ground Observer Corps surveying the skies for enemy aircraft from atop the Aberdeen Armory. She was a member of the local Beta Sigma Phi sorority and Red Hats.

Muriel leaves two sons, Bill and John, a daughter-in-law Linda, a grandson, John William, 6 nieces, 5 nephews, numerous grand-nieces and nephews, scores of dear friends, and literally hundreds who will miss her laugh, her tireless energy, and compassionate heart. She is now at rest with Jesus. To Him be the glory!!

A celebration of life will be at the First Presbyterian Church of Aberdeen, 420 North Broadway, Aberdeen WA on 11 a.m., Saturday Jan. 27, 2018. A joyous reception will follow immediately at VFW Post 224 at 105 East Heron in Aberdeen. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please make a generous donation to the VFW Post 224 Roof Fund or First Presbyterian Church of Aberdeen Building Fund.