Muriel Huggins

December 4, 1917 - June 26, 2015

Muriel Huggins went peacefully to her Lord on June 26, 2015, in her home in Forks.

Muriel was born Merle Evon Coward on December 4, 1917, in Clear Lake, Washington, to Tressa Atterberry Coward and Fred William Coward.

She lived in Clear Lake, Skagit County, with her parents and younger sister, Helen, until 1923.

Tragedy struck when her mother passed away, and 14 months later, her father died in a work accident. Muriel and her sister went to live with her uncle and his family in Lyman, Washington.

Muriel graduated from Sedro-Woolley High School at age 17 in 1935.

She married the love of her life, Delmore Huggins, on November 4, 1935, in Clear Lake, where Del worked as a logger and she worked hard alongside, cooking for the camp.

They became a family in November 1936 when their son, Jerold "Jerry," was born, followed by a daughter, Judy, in November 1940.

In 1941, they moved to Forks, where Del worked as a logger and they raised their two children.

In 1948, Muriel starting working at the local dime store that was located in the downstairs of the old International Order of Odd Fellows Hall. Eventually, they purchased the store and named it Forks Variety.

When they out grew of that location, Del built a larger store on the corner of Division Street and Forks Avenue (now the Chinook Pharmacy).

Muriel and Del traveled the world, with several journeys to Africa for safaris in the early '70s.

Muriel and Del retired from the business in 1974, which gave Muriel time to pursue her artistic passions such as glass work, painting and, of course, basket weaving.

Muriel always enjoyed gardening, canning, baking, beachcombing, camping and, for a time, spending winters in Mexico along the Sea of Cortez.

Always very artistically talented, she started weaving baskets after taking a class from Rosie Black. She always had a very close connection with the Quileute people since living in LaPush in the early '40s when first arriving on the Peninsula.

Muriel became an exceptional weaver, gathering her own materials.

Muriel was always very community-minded, from starting the first library in Forks in her own sunroom to flying in Santa Claus for the children to tell their wishes to every Christmas.

She was always willing to give back to the community and would donate one of her baskets to support a fundraiser.

Her favorite was the Quillayute Valley High School senior auction, where Muriel could also hold her own in any bidding war.

She lost her dear husband in a tractor accident in 2003. They had been married for 68 years at the time.

Muriel was named Grand Pioneer of the Forks Old Fashioned Fourth of July parade in 2005. It really meant a lot to her to be recognized this way.

Muriel Huggins was a true pioneer in Forks, and she was very proud of it. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Her husband, Delmore Huggins; son Jerry Huggins; granddaughter Rainey Day LaGambina; and great-granddaughter Aamanda LaGambina preceded her in death.

She is survived by her younger sister, Helen Healy of Everett, Washington; daughter Judy Hall of Forks; daughter-in-law Kae Huggins of Durham, North Carolina; grandchildren Albert (Debbie) Huggins of Forks, Liz (Ralph) Davis of Bellingham, Darin Huggins, Megan Huggins of Durham, North Carolina, Alan (Joan) LaGambina, Arnold (Donnette) LaGambina, Allison LaGambina and Sabrina LaGambina; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Per Muriel's request, there is to be a private family memorial service.