Muriel Lucille Willford

Muriel L. Willford, 98, of Sioux City moved to her final home in heaven with Jesus on Oct. 28, 2014.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Morningside Bible Church. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Muriel Lucile Ewens was born on June 8, 1916, to Nellie W. Swanson and Eugene Ewens, on a farm in Franklin County near Hampton, Iowa. Muriel graduated from Hampton High School in 1936 and worked several years at Graham’s Department Store.
On Dec. 7, 1946, she married Duward Dale "Sam" Willford at the Little Brown Church near Nashua, Iowa. They lived in Mason City, Iowa, about a year and then moved to Sioux City, where Sam began his career as a USDA meat inspector. In 1954, Muriel invited Jesus to be her Savior at Billy Sunday Memorial Tabernacle (now Morningside Bible Church).
She is survived by her sisters, Inez Gemskie of Ingleside, Ill., and Lois Johnson of Missouri Valley, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Kay Ewens of Harahan, La., and LaVonne Willford of Mason City; sons, Gary (Jeanie) of Glennallen, AK., and James of Lemon Grove, Calif.; grandchildren, Aaron (Jen) of Arden Hills, Minn., and Anna (Ronny) Simmons of Soldotna, AK. Muriel also had six great-grandchildren, Aubrey, Jonah, Sully and Grady Willford of Arden Hills, and Alexis and Ashley Simmons of Soldotna; and nieces and nephews; and many friends.
Muriel was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Nell Ewens; husband, Sam; son, Alan; and brother, Russell.
Special thanks to Char Mastbergen and her family and to George and Toni Sayavong for their loving concern for Mom over the years. Many thanks to Countryside Senior Living and to Hospice of Siouxland for the care and comfort they gave to Mom in her final days.
Memorials may be given in Muriel’s name to Child Evangelism Fellowship of Siouxland, PO Box 821, Sioux City, IA 51102