Bethany, MO: Muriel Caroline Wolfe Broce was born on November 5, 1921, in Catskill, New York, to William and Madeline Wolfe. She was raised in upstate New York where she attended a one-room schoolhouse and helped at a summer resort in the beautiful Catskill Mountains—skills that would serve her well for the rest of her long and interesting life.
After graduating from high school, Muriel studied accounting and worked in several positions before answering the call to serve her country by joining the United States Coast Guard during World War II. She was stationed in New Orleans, where—by her own admission—she had quite a bit of fun during her duty as a SPAR in the U.S. Coast Guard Women’s Reserve.
During her service she contracted tuberculosis and was hospitalized in New Orleans. It was there, while both were patients fighting TB, that she met her future husband, William “Bill” Broce. Bill recovered first and returned home to Springfield, Missouri. Muriel’s illness was more complicated, and she was eventually medically discharged from the Coast Guard and returned to upstate New York, where she spent two additional years recovering in a sanatorium.
Life, however, had other plans. Muriel became engaged to be married in New York, but at the urging of her mother, “Mom Wolfe,” Bill dashed in and managed to make Muriel his blushing bride after all. The couple were united in marriage on June 5, 1955, in Palenville, New York, with a reception in nearby Leeds.
The happily married couple moved to Springfield, Missouri, to begin their life together. Unfortunately, in the shuffle of moving, they forgot some suitcases—so Muriel reportedly arrived with only her suitcase full of shoes. Thankfully, she built a full and wonderful life from there.
Bill’s work with the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) took the family across Missouri, including Fulton, Columbia, and Houston, before they eventually settled in Bethany in 1972. Along the way, and despite both parents being only children themselves, Muriel and Bill added their most prized possessions: Kim, Tami, Mark, Jon, and Paul.
Muriel worked in many capacities over the years, including at the Harrison County Senior Center. She also served on the South Harrison School Board and was a lifelong believer in education. Despite raising five children and moving around the state, she continued pursuing her own studies and proudly graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Northwest Missouri State University at the young age of 60—proving it is never too late to finish what you start.
She was a faithful member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and a devoted member of Chapter Beta Beta of Beta Sigma Phi. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and playing Bridge. Muriel was known for her determination, her sharp wit, her storytelling, and her ability to make friends wherever she went. She lived through remarkable times and never lost her sense of humor about life’s twists and turns.
Muriel passed away peacefully with family at her bedside on March 4, 2026.
She is survived by her children, Kim (John) Decker of Wichita, Kan.; Tami (Richard) Easton of Bethany, Mo.; Mark (Celeste) Broce of Atlanta, Ga.; Jon (Carlene) Broce of Fort Myers, Fla.; and Paul (Diana) Broce of Godley, Texas.
She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren, all of whom carry forward her stories and, hopefully, her sense of humor.
A celebration of Muriel’s life will be held on May 2, 2026, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Bethany, Missouri. The rosary will be prayed at 10:30 a.m., followed by the funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will follow from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., with lunch for all in the church hall. Burial with military honors at Miriam Cemetery will follow.
Muriel lived a long life full of unexpected turns—from a one-room schoolhouse in New York, to wartime service, to meeting her husband in a hospital bed, to raising a large family across Missouri. Through it all, she handled life with resilience, faith, and just enough humor to keep things interesting.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, P.O. Box 166. Bethany, Mo., 64424 and American Legion, c/o Robersons Funeral Home, 1107 South 25th St. Bethany, Mo. 64424.
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