Muriel E. Spurgeon's Obituary
Muriel E. (Arbuckle) Spurgeon, age 95, of Centerville, Iowa, died Thursday, January 13, 2005, at Centerville Nursing and Rehab Center in Centerville, Iowa. She was born the daughter of the late Valentine Monroe Arbuckle and the late Mary Jane (England) Arbuckle on August 8, 1909 in Van Meter, Iowa. At the age of one, she moved to Udell, Iowa, where she lived until 1956 when she moved to Centerville, Iowa. In 1927, she graduated from Udell High School in Udell, Iowa, and helped organize the Udell High School Reunion and by her leadership, it has remained active through the years. She was a resident of the Udell, Iowa and Centerville, Iowa communities all her life. On August 7, 1932, Muriel was united in marriage to LeRoy Spurgeon in Moulton, Iowa. Muriel was a homemaker and worked at Tots to Teens clothing store. She was an active member in the Drake Avenue Christian Church, where she served in all offices of the Christian Women's Fellowship until her health failed. She was a member of the Udell Helping Neighbor's Club and the Udell Christian Church Ladies Aid Society. Muriel loved to cook and bake pies and cakes. Her burnt sugar cake won blue ribbons at the Appanoose County Fair. She lived alone until the age of 93, when she moved to The Continental at St. Joseph's. She always remembered her relatives and friends with cards and telephone calls as long as her health permitted. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends.She loved her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchild and delighted in attending all their performances and sporting events to watch them participate. She attended every graduation as long as she was able. Her interest in them has continued as they embarked on careers throughout the country. She was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, writing and receiving replies from the coaches through the years. She never missed a game on television and has been known to arise at 2:00 A.M. to watch games when the Hawkeyes played in another country in another time zone.Muriel was preceded in death by: her parents; husband LeRoy Spurgeon on December 20, 1964; infant brother Venus Arbuckle; and sisters Edith Mason and Viola Lewis.She is survived by: her son Larry Spurgeon and his wife Jan of Centerville, Iowa; her daughter Barbara Bare and her husband Charles of Miami, Florida; grandchildren Steven Spurgeon and his wife Marilyn of Longmont, Colorado; Greg Spurgeon of Longmont, Colorado; Corey Jeffus and his wife Stephenie of LaVista, Nebraska; Nate Spurgeon and his wife Chrissy of Pella, Iowa; Randy Kesterson of Charlotte, North Carolina; Lori Sacco of Grapevine, Texas; and Kris Kesterson of Des Moines, Iowa; great-grandchildren Stephanie Spurgeon; Delaney, Logan and Tyler Jeffus; Michael and Nicole Kesterson; and Amanda and Kelsey Sacco; one great-great-grandson Mason Kesterson; six nieces and one nephew; two sisters-in-law Louise Spurgeon of Grinnell, Iowa and Ruth Burger of Clinton, Iowa; many cousins and a host of friends.Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 17, 2005 at 10:30 A.M. at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville, Iowa with Pastor Tom Palmer officiating. Burial will follow at the Mt. Ararat Cemetery east of Centerville, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 16, 2005 from 1:00 till 8:00 P.M. at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville, Iowa with the family present from 6:00 till 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.Memorials can be made to the Christian Women's Fellowship-Drake Avenue Christian Church or to the Mt. Ararat Cemetery Association and can be left at or mailed to the To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Muriel E. Spurgeon please visit our Sympathy Store.
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