Carol Normandy Mueller

CAROL MUELLER
1933-2022
Carol Mueller, daughter of Frank and Kay Normandy, passed away peacefully at her Reno home, June 2, 2022. Born in Idaho and raised in Nevada, she graduated from Reno High School before enrolling at the University of Nevada at the age of 16.
In 1954, she married her college sweetheart, Karl Mueller, immediately after graduation. At that time, Carol also earned the Fulbright Exchange Scholarship, at the Universities of Innsbruck and Vienna, Austria. A second-year extension allowed them to live and study in Austria for two years, which they called their honeymoon.

Upon their return to Reno, where Karl obtained a position teaching in an elementary school, her career plans changed so she too could become a teacher. Once she entered her own classroom, she found that she loved her students and the work.

Carol was invited to join Delta Kappa Gamma, an International Society that promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education, as a charter member of the Theta Chapter in Reno in 1963. Throughout the years, she became more active, eventually serving as the international president from 2002 to 2004. 

Both she and Karl enrolled in programs for a Master's Degree, she in Spanish at the University of California in Berkeley. They completed their work the same year, 1960, and rewarded themselves with planning another stay in Austria, this time for one year, where they traveled as much as time andfunds would allow.

After the birth of her daughter Julia and son James, Carol observed a professional hiatus of ten years, before returning to her alma mater, Reno High School, as a teacher of French. In 1980, Carol became the coordinator for the academically talented program, serving in that position for eight years. In that position, she also became immersed in academic competitions, along with staff development and public relations work.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Karl, and her granddaughter, Sydney Tayler.
She is survived by her daughter, Julia Tayler (Shawn) of Reno; son, James (Sara Stone) of Portland;
grandchildren, Karl Mueller, Madison Tayler and Jordan Tayler; and adopted daughter, Salli Ortiz.
In lieu of flowers donations will be gratefully received by the Delta Kappa Gamma International
Educators Foundation, 12710 Research Blvd. Suite 230 Austin, Texas 78759.