Muriel Stitt Stewart, age 98, of Shippenville, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 23, 2026.

She was born on May 26, 1928 in Kittanning to the late Grace Polliard Stitt and Leslie Vernon Stitt.

Muriel lived in Pittsburgh most of her formative years and would come up to Clarion County to visit aunts and uncles. It was on one of those visits that she met her future husband, Earl R. Stewart, at a square dance in the Cherry Run area.

Earl and Muriel were married on July 15, 1950. They shared 57 years of marriage before Earl passed away on June 1, 2007. Life was not the same without Earl who was her best friend and the love of her life.

Muriel may have grown up in Pittsburgh but she became a farmer's wife … learning how to drive a tractor, can food, bake bread and when the twins were born, Muriel had six children to raise … all under the age of seven. In later years after the kids were grown, Muriel could be found sitting in the farm truck embroidering quilt squares while watching Earl as he worked the fields.

For most of those 57 years of marriage, Muriel and Earl lived on their 158-acre farm on Mount Airy (outside of Sligo). That is where they raised their six children: Ted Sr (Michele) Stewart of Ponte Vedre, FL; Mark (Joyce) Stewart of Clarion, D. Scott Stewart of Rimersburg, Barbara (Tom) Davis of East Brady, Janet Stewart of Shippenville, and Jay (Pat) Stewart of Sligo.

When the children were older, Muriel worked outside the home. She worked as a bookkeeper for Heeter Lumber Company and Strattanville Homes, and did payroll for IU6 (Intermediate Unit #6).

Through the years, Muriel had several "hobbies". She was an avid reader. Up until she was in her late 90s, Muriel read one book each week. Her favorite authors were Daphne DeMaurier and John Grishom. She was also an avid bird watcher and shared her love of birds with all who visited her. She knew all the birds at the feeders and if she didn't, she had several bird books to help her identify the mystery bird(s).

Muriel loved to embroidery quilts. She made about 30 quilts through the years. And lastly, Muriel did extensive research on the genealogy of the Stewart family. A memory she cherished was the trip taken to Ireland with Earl and other family members to find the "Stewart Castle" and Fort Stewart in Ramelton, Northern Ireland.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Muriel was preceded in death by her brothers, Jack and his wife Twila, Dean and his wife Carolyn, Leonard and his wife Eleanor, and her sister, Gwen and her husband Chuck Short.

She is survived by her four sons and two daughters, 11 grandchildren, (Sarah Rose, Ted Jr (Loren) . and Michael (Kelli) , Shane (Sarah) and Sheena (JP), Seth and Chase, Erin (Dustin), Genny and Kyle (Kaitlyn), and John) and 10 great-grandchildren (Benjamin, Bentley, Charlotte, Eleanor, Joshua, Michael Jr, Noah, Rory, Timothy, Weylin, and two great granddaughters expected to arrive in September and November). Muriel is also survived by a sister-in-law Shirley Stewart, numerous nieces and nephews and a special family member, Larry Ireland, who was raised for several years with her and her siblings when they lived in Pittsburgh. She is also survived by Daisy and Duke, her four-legged feline family members.

Muriel had many good friends throughout the years but in her later years, her friends were not only in Clarion County but all across Pennsylvania. While in her late 80s and 90s, she traveled extensively across Pennsylvania to attend Eastern Star events with her daughter, Janet, and at those activities, she made friends with everyone she met. Thus, she is also survived by hundreds of Eastern Star Sisters and Brothers.

Muriel was raised Presbyterian but when she married Earl, she became a Methodist. She attended Cherry Run United Methodist Church until it closed and then she attended Manor United Methodist Church (near the Clarion Airport). She was a 72-year member of the PA Order of the Eastern Star, a 27-year member of the Clarion County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and until it closed, a long-time member of the Sligo Murphy Grange.

The family has been blessed by a wonderful support system of friends and caregivers. A special thank you goes out to Carol Brown, Dana Hamby, Lisa Miceli, Madison Womeldorf, and Hospice caregivers Brenna, Emily, Emmy, and Holly.

Goble Funeral Home in Clarion has kindly helped the family make the arrangements. Visiting hours will be 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Tuesday, August 25th at the Goble Funeral Home in Clarion and 10:00 am – 11:00 am on Wednesday, August 26th, at the Manor United Methodist Church (near the Clarion Airport). An Eastern Star service will be held at 10:45 am and the funeral, led by Pastor Carol Brown, will be held following the OES service. Internment will be in the Rimersburg Cemetery.

Because Muriel loved to read, the family suggests to anyone wishing to make a donation in her memory to do so by making a donation to their local library or to the Clarion Free Library (in Clarion, PA).

Friends and family may send online condolences, order flowers and memorials, and obtain additional information by visiting www.goblefh.net