Muriel Pech Owen

Muriel Pech Owen

Cedar Rapids

Muriel Pech Owen crossed into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Sunday, February 25, 2024.

She left behind those God had placed in her care. Her children Susan (Clayton) Paxson and Scott (Melinda) Owen; four grandchildren Amber (Casey) Coberly, H. Thomas (Ashley) Caton, Andrew Caton, and Stefan (Mallory) Owen; and seven great grandchildren, Jordan, Nina, Will and Rico Caton and Sage, Lane and Coraline Coberly.

Muriel was born April 13, 1937 to Louis Frederick Pech and Leoma Bernice Shelhammer Pech in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She lived her entire life in that area with two exceptions, five years during WWII she lived in the Los Angeles area, and the last nine months she had moved to Floyd, Virginia where her daughter lived.

In the 1940s, her parents owned a restaurant in Center Point, Iowa, where she struggled to learn the lessons of sharing family with business. These lessons instilled an intense love of family as well as a strong work ethic.

On June 16, 1955, she married Douglas Alan Owen at St. Paul’s UM church. Doug preceded her in death in 2013.

Initially she worked as a legal secretary for Harry Terpstra, as well as other attorneys, resigning when her first child was born.

She was an extremely artistic person. She made many, many bed quilts for her family and those in need, moving on to become an accomplished fiber artist. In 1980, she founded the East Iowa Heirloom Quilters, an organization that still thrives today.

In the long course of her love of fabrics and creating with them, she earned many, many awards and ribbons. She was also an oil painter, a published writer, a professional proofreader, a Sunday School teacher, a Scout leader, a quilt teacher and a seamstress, having made beautiful formals for her daughter and granddaughter.

Muriel will be remembered for her faithful encouragement as a sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, loving aunt and friend. She always had time for chocolate chip cookies and conversation.

Her life story can be told in her wit and laughter coupled with the life lessons she so readily shared hoping to encourage the listener to look to God for answers. She lived to fulfill the wisdom of Proverbs 31:10-13. “Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

A private family memorial will be held in late Spring. Cards may be sent c/o Susan Paxson, PO Box 39, Floyd, VA, 24091.