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Edith Muriel King Smith, a resident of Belen since 1938, died June 5, 2002 after a brief illness. Muriel was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, educated at the Universities of Minnesota and New Mexico, receiving a bachelor's degree in modern languages from the University of Minnesota. She did her postgraduate work at the University of Minnesota and the University of New Mexico. Her teaching certification was completed at the University of New Mexico. She was employed by the Minneapolis Star, the Santa Fe Railroad and the Belen Public Schools, first in the forties as a traveling elementary school teacher and later as a language arts and journalism teacher in both junior and senior high school. She was also a staff reporter and Women's Editor for the News Bulletin from 1952 to 1962. Muriel has been active in political organizations since she served as secretary of the Young Republicans in Minneapolis. She was a former secretary and vice-chairwoman of the Valencia County Republicans as well as a former finance chairman of the New Mexico Federation of Republican Women. A life long Republican, her one run for office as state representative ended when she was defeated by her friend Bonnie Tabet. Long active in civic and community affairs, Muriel served on the Girl Scout Council, was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader as well as a den mother in Cub Scouts. She was a former secretary of the Belen Parent Teacher Association and publicity and Public Relations chairman in Pilot Club International. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Belen Community Center, the Belen Youth Council, the Governor's Council on Industry and Education and the New Mexico Youth Conference. She was an active member of St. Phillip's Episcopal Church in Belen as well as a member of the Eastern Star, Delta Delta Delta Sorority, Tri Psi Sorority and a former president of the American Association of University Women. She has been preceded in death by; her parents, Rupert and Olga King; her husband, Sidney J. Smith; and her granddaughter, Mary Elaine Byers. She is survived by; her sister, Bernice King Fields of Los Angeles, California; her children, Rupert K. Byers and his wife, Rae, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Hugh Byers and his wife, Norma of Reston, Virginia and Susan M. Ekis of the family home; her grandchildren, Karen Byers Blackwell and husband, Eric of Los Angeles, California, Richard Byers of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sybil Byers Fetter and husband, Ron of Belmont, Massachusetts, Michael Byers of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Lisa Ekis Cavenee and husband, Danny of Belen, New Mexico, Pamela Byers Donahue and husband, Kent of Danville, California, Warren and Allison Byers of Reston, Virginia; her great-grandchildren, Cameron and Jordan Cavenee of Belen, Garrett and Avery Donahue of Danville, California and Cameron Fetter of Belmont, Massachusetts, and Frank A. Byers of Espanola, New Mexico. The family plans to hold a memorial service at St. Phillip's Episcopal Church later in the summer when all Muriel's family members will be able to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to the local chapter of the American Association of University Women for a scholarship in her name to be awarded each year to a Belen High School senior in language arts. Please send memorials to AAUW, 1107 Calle delValle, Belen, New Mexico, 87002.
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