Muriel Lee Ostrin
March 20, 1933 - May 5, 2011
Obituary
Muriel Lee Ostrin
Born 3-20-33 in Caldwell, ID, died peacefully at home in Seattle on 5-5-11, taken quickly by acute leukemia.
A farm girl who worked hard and loved gardening, Muriel graduated from Greenleaf Friends Academy near Caldwell, then completed 2 years study at George Fox College, Newberg, OR. She met her husband, Ernie Ostrin, and they were married on 6-14-54, after he received his engineering degree from OSU.
Settling in Seattle, their daughter Ardis was born three years later and Muriel left bookkeeping for full-time motherhood and helping others however she could. Linda was born 18 months later and they moved temporarily to NW Florida for Ernie’s 3-year transfer assignment at Boeing.
Muriel lived out her love for Jesus Christ, her family, and others in many ways throughout her life, responding in compassionate and practical ways to others’ needs.
She served many roles at Holly Park Friends Church, as Sunday School teacher, youth leader, and Muriel and Ernie taught waterskiing at Northwest Friends annual youth camps on the Oregon Coast for thirty years. She also served on the Northwest Yearly Meeting Friends Church Missions Board and was an active supporter of Friends missions work in Bolivia, Peru, and Rwanda.
Committed to Christian education, Muriel was the first woman to serve on the board of Seattle Christian School, and led carpooling of students. Muriel personally drove over 200, 000 miles in providing transportation for Seattle Christian School students. She was, more recently, a driver for Seattle Parks ‘Lifelong Recreation’ outings.
Muriel was part of the Red Cross’ Aid to Aging program for several years, working with the blind and the elderly. She helped new residents adapt to American culture and adopted them into her life.
The past several years have been spent supporting and staffing Quaker Cove Christian Camp near Anacortes, WA. She enjoyed nurturing the plants around North Seattle Friends Church where she was an active member for 31 years. Her life was spent in loving service, adding beauty and grace to the lives of those around her.
She leaves behind her devoted husband, Howard E. Ostrin, daughters Ardis Jerry Drain and Linda Jim Hawthorne, grandchildren Tommy and Valerie Hawthorne and Rheannon Drain. She is also survived by her sisters Clara Jean Morrison and Joyce Belt, their families, and many cousins. There are so many others Muriel ‘adopted’ into her family that they are too numerous to list.
Her Memorial Service is 3 PM on 5-15-11 at North Seattle Friends Church, 7740 24th Ave. NE, Seattle, 98115, 206 525-8800.
I remember Muriel from when I lived in Seattle and attended Friends Memorial Church.
She was always kindness itself, a lovely and gracious human being, always reaching out to others.
Sympathy and love to Ernie, Ardis and all who miss her today.
Thinking of all of you today and everyday. Life is all to short for us. Aunt Muriel had a great sense on humor, a twinkle in her eyes, and a laugh we will certainly miss. Her faith and love of God and family are testiment to how she lived. She will be missed.
Pamela
My thoughts and prayers for you and your family. God is so good he will care for you all.
Karin Crouch
Reata’s daughter
It was always fun to go to Aunt Muriels and Uncle Ernies, she will be missed.
Dear Ernie, Ardis and Linda and family
Dear cousin Muriel will be greatly missed, but she gave us some great memories. She was so helpful, generous and gracious. I loved her smile and warm hugs and sound advice. Her love for the Lord Jesus was evident in all she did and I’m glad He was the one to tell her it was time to come home.
My love and prayers, hugs and thoughts are with you.
Your cousin,
Kathy
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families at this time. May God bless.
Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
I am so glad to have known you over the years and will miss your smile at church and camp. God bless you and yours–Betty Miller
Ernie and Muriel were influential in my life when i was a
mere teenager who thought she knew a lot;but they taught me
about God and how his love is forever.Just remember, a
mother’s love always lives in the hearts of her children.
I remember well,when we all went water skiing and how
patient she was with me to explain what to do with with
those big boards strapped to my feet!!
Her love of the Lord is what is remebered the most.
I remember her from the Holly Parks Friends Church, which we attended in the 1960’s, Strange thing is her name just popped in my head yesterday and the obit came up today when searching for Dave Helland. She was a very kind lady.