Muriel L Baldwin

Muriel L. Baldwin, born to Mr. and Mrs. Frederic Douglas Smothers, came into this world on December 1st, in the year of Our Lord 1939, in Cleveland, Ohio. She Graduated from Heights High School in Cleveland Heights, Ohio in 1956. A talented and budding lyric soprano, Muriel went on to study and perfect her vocal technique at the Cleveland Institute of Music, while working for the US Postal Service and raising her two children Kevin and Cerese. In accordance with her Christian faith and in pursuit of her desire to become more and more a reflection of that faith, Muriel joined Euclid Avenue Congregational Church, where she was a member and soloist with the church choir. Having a repertoire of both sacred and secular music, Muriel was a soloist for weddings, cultural events and featured in privately sponsored concert recitals in Churches throughout Greater Cleveland. In 1976, Muriel successfully auditioned for the renowned Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. As a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus for a number of years, Muriel performed in operatic productions such as Mozart's Magic flute and choral recitals of the works of Handel, Mendelssohn, Verdi, Orff, among others, under the baton of Choral Director, Mr. Robert Page, at Blossom Music Center and one of America's most beautiful concert halls, Cleveland's Severance Hall. After 33 years of faithful service with the US Postal Service, at the age of 53, Muriel took an early retirement and relocated to Sunny Arizona where she joined her mother and other family members. Spiritually devoted to her relationship with a loving and living God, Muriel pursued her Christian journey at Corner Stone Church and eventually, Grace Bible. In spite of her joyful disposition and valiant fight to overcome the grief of her mother going home to live with God only 5 months earlier, and due to serious ailments, among one of which was breast and eventually lung cancer. Muriel succumbed to a pulmonary embolism during the night of February 6, 2013. She is survived by her two children Kevin and Cerese, her brother Allyn, her nephew Isaac and her son-in-law Nicolas, Cousins Barbara-Jean, Marlene, Jackie and Turk and great niece Cassey. Our Muriel will be deeply missed, but joyfully remembered by all who knew and loved her. A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 11:00am in Grace Bible Church, 9280 N 99th Avenue, Sun City, AZ 85373