“Not long and snappy, but short and happy.”
Irene Margaret (Kellar) Mueller, age 82, passed on peacefully, surrounded by her family, at home in Coupeville on the morning of July 8.
Irene was born July 20, 1932, to Michael and Margaret Kellar on their homestead in Williston, N.D.
She graduated from Williston High School in 1950, known as “Not long and snappy, but short and happy.”
Irene married Donald Fuller in 1953; five children were born of that marriage.
As a military and then airline family, they lived in several states including Arizona, Minnesota, New York and Florida. They moved to Seattle in 1972, where Irene worked for Boeing and volunteered at the USO in Sea-Tac Airport, St. Philomena Church, Angle Lake PTA, “The Flight Path” and Pregnancy Aid.
In September 1980, Irene married Gordon Mueller, a union which included a family of fourteen children. Irene and Gordy retired to Whidbey Island in 1985, where Irene opened the “Country Cottage” in Coupeville and wrote a column for The Coupeville Examiner: “This and That: A View of the People, Places and Things of Whidbey Island,” which was later published as a book series.
She was also active in the Lion’s Club, Concerts on the Cove, Chamber of Commerce and Soroptimist. Before there was Internet, Irene published a family newsletter called the “Mott Connection” which provided a way for generations of her family living in different areas to keep in touch.
Irene will be remembered by her family and friends as an affectionate, cheerful and delightful Irish lass who loved to dance and garden and who was courageous and determined.
She is survived by 11 children and their spouses, Shellie Johnson (Randy) of Coupeville; Valerie Howe (Clyde) of Vashon; Beckie Riecks (Fred) of Chelsea, Mich.; Richard Fuller of Seattle; Gary Fuller (Laura) of Auburn; Bruce Mueller (Terri) of Marysville; John Mueller (Eileen) of San Jose, Calif.; Kathleen Tedford of San Jose, Calif.; Michael Mueller of Seattle; Paul Mueller of Seattle; Jennifer Grant of Seattle; 20 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Her beloved husband, Gordon Mueller; children Chris Clark, Larry Mueller and Gordon Mueller, Jr.; and the father of her children, Donald Fuller, preceded her in death.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 16, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Coupeville. Reverand Paul Pluth, JCL, will serve as celebrant. Please visit Irene’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com to share memories and condolences. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home & Cremation, LLC, Oak Harbor.
