Muriel Audeen Sheets

Muriel had two older sisters, Mildred and Frances, both of whom predeceased her, and two younger sisters, Nadine Frankel (who recently passed away on April 25, 2010) and Bette Centola (who survives Muriel in Idaho). Her only child, Dr. Cherilyn Sheets Moehlman, her only son-in-law, Mark Moehlman, her only grandchild, Melisa Moehlman, and several nieces and nephews also survive Muriel. In addition, Muriel had one brother, Alvin Taylor, who was killed in an auto accident in 1963.

The Taylor family moved to the Los Angeles basin in 1923 (approximate time of photo), where Muriel attended Oak Street Elementary School in Inglewood. Muriel graduated from Leuzinger High School in 1936 after the family moved to Hawthorne. Upon graduation, Muriel first worked at the Inglewood Furniture Store before being hired by her future brother-in-law, Dr. Russell Sheets. It was in his office where she met the love of her life and future husband, Dr. James Sheets, Russell’s younger brother.

Dottie and J.B., as family and friends knew them, were married on February 22, 1941 in Inglewood, California and honeymooned in Palm Springs. They set up their home and actively joined in with the young professional and business owners in the community who were members of the 20-30’s Service Club.

They established J.B.’s private dental practice in 1948, building the facility that now houses The Smile Store of the Children’s Dental Center of Greater Los Angeles. By the time Dr. Cherilyn Sheets joined the family practice, more than 5,000 families and over 10,000 patients considered this practice their dental home.

Muriel was involved heavily in building and supporting Centinela Hospital, a private community hospital in Inglewood. She also was instrumental in forming the Inglewood Philharmonic Orchestra, and supported J.B. during his thirteen-year tenure on the Inglewood Unified School Board. Their biggest time commitment was being active members of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. Muriel was involved in numerous activities that centered around the church and the Forest Home Christian Conference Center. In 1969, she chaired a woman’s multi-church event at the Anaheim Convention Center, organizing and emceeing a luncheon keynoted by Ruth Graham that filled the Arena and Founders Room. Over 2,000 women were in attendance!

Muriel’s secret passion was for athletics. She was an excellent golfer and many people encouraged her to be a professional golfer. In fact, she was good enough that J.B. asked her not to hit the ball as hard as she could when she played with his “guy friends”. He told her, “Please pull back a little. The guys are getting mad that you are outdriving them”. Of course, she would have nothing to do with that, and drove the ball even farther with great passion and intensity!

Once Cherilyn graduated from dental school, Muriel was finally able to work “outside of the home”. And work she did! She served as bookkeeper, myofunctional therapist, nutritional counselor, plaque control therapist, architect, interior designer and director of human resources and marketing. She loved being a “professional woman”, furthering her knowledge and personal education at every opportunity.

Muriel was the “Motivational Queen” and inspired many young people (including her daughter) to set high goals, further their education and pursue professional careers. She was always mentoring and empowering others with her boundless love and enthusiasm. She particularly was passionate about telling young women “Don’t you ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do something because you are a girl. You can do anything that you want if you are willing to work hard!” She also loved to warn young women, “Don’t you ever let a man put you under his thumb!” And at the same time, she would push her thumb hard on the table and move it from side to side. Muriel was a strong women’s rights advocate; they just hadn’t coined the name!

No human being has ever walked this planet that possessed a keener, more innate sense of right and wrong than Muriel Audeen Sheets. She was frequently heard to say, “That’s just not right”…and she was invariably right! Muriel was very loving, strongly loyal, kind, compassionate, nurturing, caring, strong-willed and a perfectionist—in short, she was a stereotypical Virgo! Her passion for excellence inspired hundreds and will continue to inspire thousands more through the people whose lives she has touched. Muriel was beautiful both inside and out.

Muriel was also a die-hard Trojan, long before Cherilyn entered the University of Southern California. She loved cheering for USC’s athletic teams through the years, especially during football season. After J.B. had his career-ending stroke in 1987, Muriel made the decision to donate the dental office and practice that she had worked for over forty years to build, to the USC School of Dentistry. She derived tremendous personal joy and satisfaction from watching her gift evolve over the past twenty years into the prototype for dozens of similar community non-profit dental centers across America. It was a bold gift and has inspired others to help poor children achieve oral health and avoid serious systemic disease. What a legacy!

Around home, we will always remember Muriel as “America’s Toothfairy”. Her life, her passionate spirit, her inspiration, her love for children, her commitment to oral health have all created the ingredients that were the founding principles of The Children’s Dental Center and The National Children’s Oral Health Foundation (aka America’s Toothfairy).

Our own personal Toothfairy may be dead…but her Toothfairy spirit will live forever!

In response to many requests, the Sheets-Moehlman family asks that all donations in Muriel's honor be made to either of the following non-profits. All gifts will be acknowledged directly by the charities. The family thanks you in advance!

The Children's Dental Center, 300 E. Buckthorn Street, Inglewood, California 90301 or Muriel Sheets Memorial Toothfairy Fund, c/o America's Toothfairy, 4108 Park Road, Suite 406, Charlotte, North Carolina 28209.

Arrangements under the direction of Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary FD1176, Corona Del Mar, CA.