Muriel Mae Campbell was the 2nd child & daughter of Edgar & Ora Florence Campbell. She was born on November 22, 1902 southeast of Iowa City. Her father worked at this time at the John W. Slemmons Farm.

Later the family, including an older sister, Maude, moved south west of Iowa City to the "Brick House on the John R. Roberts Farm, then briefly to another acreage when Edgar farmed, and finally to the 'Hughes Farm" which was known as the family home. In later years Muriel had seven other siblings; Melva, Clive, Carl , Clarion, Mary, Cloyce and Bob.

Muriel attended Willow Grove, a rural grade school, University High School for 2 years and graduated in 1920 from Iowa City High School after 2 years there. [At Iowa City High School she took the 'normal training course' which qualified one to teach in the County grade schools.] It was in 1918 , while in high school, that Muriel was very sick with the flu-influenza. [The high schools were closed and some people even died in the Iowa City area.] Muriel joined the Welsh Church on September 1, 1918 along with her sister Melva.

She also attended the Univ. of Iowa for several years. At one time both she and sister Melva lived together with 'Grandma Hughes' and attended the University ( this was after both had worked for a year or so teaching to obtain funds for their tuitions). At another time Muriel loaned Melva money to attend the 'U" & Melva paid her back later after she got another teaching job.

Muriel taught at several rural grade schools in Johnson County including :
At the Rarick School 8 miles east of Iowa City.
At a School 2 miles north of North Liberty. [She lived with a couple in North Liberty, the Colony's, who were related to a friend, Geneva Colony. Muriel rode the interurban to her school. [Her sister Melva, also lived with the Colony's at the same time and taught at a school 2 miles south of North Liberty to which she had to walk.]
At a school east of Iowa City ( where she & sister Maude lived with a local family and each taught at different schools)
At a school in the Waterloo area (she lived with her sister Maude while teaching in a rural school in this area.)
At the "Dumb Hundred" School south of Sharon.
At the Wellman Schools for several years, especially at the Jr. High

It was while teaching in Wellman that she met & dated (for several years) Wilbur Damell, a native of Wellman. He lived with his widowed mother and ran a coal & grain business there. Muriel & Wilbur were married on October 3, 1936 in Ft. Madison, Iowa. They lived in a bungelow home near Wilbur's mother and the business.

Wilbur and Muriel had 2 children, Donna Karen, born on October 6, 1938 and a son who died at birth in 1943.

Muriel, as I recall her was a happy, good natured woman who loved to whistle! It was always fun to go visit her & husband Wilbur & and cousin Donna & sometimes stay overnight. Aunt Muriel made the best 'oven toasted' toast! She was also an excellent seamstress. She made lovely clothes and did many 'alterations' for daughter Donna, her four grandchildren, and in later years for her great-grandchildren.

Wilbur died suddenly of a heart attack late one night while up late watching TV, after the family was in bed. He died on June 9, 1952. He is buried in the Wellman Cemetery (located on the hill at the s. w. corner of town).

Muriel continued to live at their Wellman home. Her daughter Donna attended Wellman grade & high schools, and went to Grinnell College. Donna taught for a year near Grinnell and then was married to a fellow Grinnellian, J. Michael Watkins. They later moved to Iowa City where Mike attended SUI and where Muriel's first grandchild, Ann Edris Watkins was born on June 30, 1962 . In later years Micheal worked for a company that moved him to various locations. Thus Muriel would travel by plane, bus or by car (though she did not drive herself) to visit Donna & family in Iowa City, IA ; Elmhurst, IL; York, P A; Mt. Vernon, IL; and Medina, OH. She would often visit for the summer and enjoyed her four grandchildren: Ann Edris born June 30, 1962 in Iowa City, John Robert, born July 7 1964 in Elmhurst, IL; Kathryn Jean, born June 28 1967 in York, PA and Joseph Frederick, born September 22, 1969 in Mt. Vernon, IL.

In about 1987 Muriel rented her home & moved to live with her daughter Donna, in Medina Ohio. Donna was previously divorced, & was working for the Mayor of Cleveland. Muriel fell and broke her hip, requiring hip replacement surgery in the fall of 1995. After her surgery she went to live at a Medina Nursing Home. It was here she passed away on January 13, 1999. She is buried in Wellman, IA, with her husband, at the Wellman Cemetery.1076