Muriel Lyons Herold

Muriel Lyons Herold, 96, passed away on Friday, November 13th, just weeks after the loss of her beloved husband Fred. They had celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary in September. 

Mrs. Herold was a longtime resident of Bayport, and a faithful member of St. Ann’s Episcopal church since 1949.

Muriel was born on November 15th, 1923, in Brooklyn, New York, where she lived until her marriage. 
After graduating from high school, she went to work as a secretary at the New York Telephone Company in Manhattan. There she met a group of young women with whom she traveled extensively, including a memorable trip to Cuba. 

During World War II, Muriel dabbled in the theater, eventually becoming a magician’s assistant. She and her New York company entertained audiences at venues that included the Stage Door and Carnegie Hall. She was invited to tour overseas with the USO, recalling with regret that her mother forbade her to go. 

While living in Brooklyn, Muriel and her family summered in Peconic, Long Island, and spent many weekends in Bayport, where her elder sister Helen lived with her young family. It was here that a cousin introduced her to the love of her life, Fred. They married at St. Ann’s in 1949. 

Muriel’s life revolved around her husband and her children, Gary, Pam and Melanie. She was a den mother and a Brownie leader, and gave generously of her time serving on the altar guild and for the Episcopal Church Women at St. Ann’s. She had a beautiful singing voice, and was a member of the choir for over 30 years. 

Muriel was a member of the Metlakhatla Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. She and Fred were also among the earliest members of a local social group called The Sabre Club. Muriel was a long-standing member of the Anna Smith Strong Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. 

In 1989 Muriel & Fred bought a home on St. Croix, USVI where they joined the parish of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Christiansted. During their twenty plus years on St. Croix, Muriel volunteered at My Brother’s Table, a soup kitchen in Fredriksted. They enjoyed many wonderful years as members of the St. Croix Yacht & Tennis Clubs and hosted innumerable Cruzan cocktail parties. Throughout their life together, Muriel enthusiastically traveled all across North America with Fred, the children, and their friends in their single engine airplane. 

Muriel is predeceased by her husband Fred, her son Gary, and son-in-law Donald. She is survived by her daughter Pamela Evans and husband Matt, her daughter Melanie Awe, and five grandchildren, Christian, Jeremy, India, Holiday, and Hamilton Awe.

Muriel had so many friends and was beloved for her warm and beautiful smile, sparkling sense of humor and her unfailingly beautiful manners. Affectionately known by family and friends as “Mu”, she was the consummate lady. 

A church service will be held on Saturday November 21st at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church in Sayville at 2pm. The service will be live-streamed and the link will be accessible through St. Ann’s Episcopal Church’s website saint-anns.org