Muriel Harriet Pickard of Coupeville, Wash., passed away on March 8, 2021 at the age of 97 after a long, full life.

Muriel was born on May 23, 1923 to Samuel and Betty Sarchin in Seattle, Wash. After graduating from Cleveland High School in 1941, she went on to work at Boeing until she met the love of her life, Herbert Charles Pickard. They married in 1942, followed by a move to San Diego, Calif., while Herb served in the U.S. Navy. Muriel returned to Coupeville to live with her in-laws while Herb was at sea.

Muriel and Herb raised their daughter, Jan, and son, Ken, in Coupeville. Herb bought Prairie Center Mercantile upon his parents’ retirement in 1946, launching his successful business career that was always overshadowed by their shared devotion to their customers, community life and entertaining. Muriel’s delicious food, family and community gatherings, warm welcome to all who entered their home and her love of beauty in many forms, from art to gardens, stand out when thinking about her life.

After Herb retired in 1979, they enjoyed world travel, community life and friends, making new friends wherever their travels led them. Muriel loved Coupeville and devoted years of her life to volunteering in the community. She served on a number of boards, a few of which included the Coupeville Arts Center, which she helped to found, Whidbey General Hospital Auxiliary Polly Harpole Guild and the Island County Historical Museum. She was instrumental in helping to launch Friends of Ebey’s. Muriel will be remembered for her tapioca pudding and brisket, her love and commitment to her family, her warmth and friendly nature, her beauty inside and out, and her generosity and kindness.

Muriel leaves her daughter Jan and her family, Anne Harvey, Daniel Nieder and Victoria Jaguar and their son, Ody, Jillian Fisher and Chad Fisher, and Tyler Harvey and Madison Long; son Ken and family, Sue Lashley and his son Aaron Pickard and Candace Bobryk and her sister Heloise Shyman. Muriel had a number of nieces and nephews and their children whom she loved.

A graveside memorial for the family and caregivers was held Thursday, March 11 in Seattle at the Hills of Eternity.

Contributions in Muriel’s memory may be made to the Island County Historical Museum, P.O. Box 305, Coupeville, WA. 98239 or Friends of Ebey’s, PO Box 958, Coupeville, WA 98239.