Nancy Mueller

MUELLER - Nancy Palmer Mueller, age 89, died in her Grand Rapids home on Thursday, May 19, 2011. She is survived by her children, Margo (David) Else of Hilton Head Island, SC, and Shelley (Kirk) Brown of Asheville, NC. She is also survived by her five grandchildren, Sarah (Else) Hurst of Bluffton, SC, Robert Carroll (Cary) Pew of Carbondale, CO, John Fredrick Pew of Hood River, OR, and William Christopher Pew of Portland, OR. She was predeceased by her parents, Florence (Eaton) and Walter Seymour Palmer. Mrs. Mueller was born on December 20, 1921 in Grand Rapids. She graduated from Central High School in 1939, and from Vassar College in 1943 with a Bachelors degree in Economics. Mrs. Mueller's Grand Rapids roots go deep. Four of her family branches go back to the settlement of the village during the 1830s. Her great-grandfather, Harry Eaton, was elected sheriff of Kent County in 1840 and was the first treasurer of Walker Township. In 1842, her great-grandfather, Henry Seymour, opened the young town's first school, the Grand Rapids Academy. Her grandfather, Walter Millard Palmer, was mayor of Grand Rapids. Her grandmother, Jeanette Hinsdill Palmer, was a founder of the Golden Rule Society and the Mary Free Bed Guild. Her mother, Florence Eaton Palmer, was one of the founders of the YWCA's Camp Newaygo. Long active in civic affairs, she was the first woman to work as a city planner in the Grand Rapids City Planning Department. She was also on the Michigan Board of the League of Women Voters, playing a key role during the 1961-62 State Constitutional Convention. From 1974 through 1995, Mrs. Mueller was executive director of Our Hope Association, a residential substance abuse treatment program for women. She was a pioneer in the field of women and substance abuse recovery, becoming active on both the state and local levels. She was an active member of the West Michigan Workers for Women Alcoholics from 1978 to 1991, and was a member of the Michigan Association of Alcoholism and Drug Addition Counselors. Her other community activities included the Kent County Library Board, East Grand Rapids Planning Commission, and the Junior League. Until her death she was active in the Side Board of Blodgett Hospital, the Vassar Club of West Michigan, and the Woman's City Club. She had a life-long commitment to and enjoyment of the outdoors and physical fitness. Throughout her life she was an avid Camp Newaygo supporter, ballet dancer and instructor, alpine and Nordic skier, swimmer, and hiker. Her other interests included international travel, theatre and dance, reading, and bridge. A memorial service will be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Our Hope Association (324 Lyon NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, phone 616-451-2039) or Camp Newaygo (NCCS Camp Newaygo, 5333 Centerline Rd., Newaygo, MI 49337, phone 231-652-1184). The family is being served by: Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Service