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ALEXANDER, Muriel L. (Kirby) 1923-2010

ALEXANDER, SOVEY, KIRBY, FIERSTINE, FLAHERTY

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 1/1/2011 at 19:05:01

[Waterloo Courier, Thursday, July 29, 2010]

Muriel Lorraine Kirby Alexander, 87, of Loveland, Colo., passed away June 28, 2010, at home with her daughter by her side. She was born March 2, 1923, in Waterloo, to Frank Everitt Kirby and Maude Grace Sovey Kirby. She attended schools in Waterloo and graduated from West High School in 1941. She attended business college in Cedar Rapids. She moved shortly after that to McAllen, Texas, to be close to her parents and assist them during a debilitating illness of her father. She was active in the USO in South Texas during World War II.

Soon after the war, she returned to Waterloo to work and renew old acquaintances. There she was re-introduced to Robert Alexander. They were married on June 6, 1947. Muriel and Bob had four children. They settled in Cedar Falls to raise their kids. She was a stay-at-home mom, who spent the next 20-plus years playing the piano and organ for the youth choir at church, fixing dinners for youth night at the church, leading Brownie troops, volunteering at the schools and PTA and chaperoning kids' parties at home and at the parks.

Muriel enjoyed crafts, playing the piano and organ. She was on the city council for several years in Indian Lakes, Texas. She was a fantastic cook and planned some awesome social events over the years for family and friends. She loved each and every place she lived. She will be sorely missed.

She and Bob spent weekends and vacations enjoying the outdoors with their family and friends. When the kids got into junior high, they bought a cabin on the Wapsipinicon River near Independence, and spent most of the summers there for the next several years. The love of this area lead to the purchase of a farm near their cabin, and in 1970 they built a house on the property. Muriel was a gentlewoman farmer and raised some cattle, lambs, a few pigs, chickens and wild fowl to keep it interesting. They stayed on the farm until the early '80s when Bob was ready to retire.

At that time, they purchased a place in Indian Lakes and a place at Leisure Lake, close to the Mississippi River. They then traveled to the south in the winter and Iowa in the summer. Later, their love of grandkids and the West took them to Glendo, Wyo., to be closer to both. They maintained residences there until after Bob died. Muriel then relocated to Loveland to be close to her daughter.

Muriel was preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother; her brother, William F. Kirby; her husband, Robert J. Alexander; her sons, James and John. She is survived by her daughters, Julie Fierstine (Kent) of Loveland and Betty Jane Flaherty (Michael) of Douglas, Wyo.; and daughter-in-law, Judee Alexander of Otterville. She also is survived by six grandchildren, Shannon McMahon (Robert) of Austin, Texas, Elizabeth Flaherty of Laramie, Wyo., Jack Flaherty of Albert Lea, Minn., Michael Alexander of Independence, Amanda Alexander of Waukon and Alex Fierstine of Loveland; three great-grandchildren; and a handful of nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 2, at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Littleton. A reception honoring Muriel will be held at the Alexander Farm immediately following the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pathways Hospice, Fort Collins, CO, 80525, or American Cancer Society in care of Viegut Funeral Home, 1616 N. Lincoln, Loveland, CO 80538.


 

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