Muriel Bennett Hamblen

Muriel Bennett Hamblen has taken the last steps of her earthly journey, passing away peacefully at the age of 95 on March 11 in Dayton, Ohio, where she lived in the home of her son, Lyons, and his family.

A native of Asheville, North Carolina, Muriel grew up there, the middle child of Milas Edward Bennett and Irene Yarborough Bennett. She spent much time among her many relatives, especially those descended from Hiram Rogers in Fines Creek, Haywood County.

Given the school laws in North Carolina at the time she graduated from Lee Edwards High School, Muriel entered Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee at the age of 16.

There, as World War II wound down and soldiers returned home, Muriel met Lyons A. Hamblen (a baseball and basketball stand-out at Carson-Newman before he left to serve with the Army's 35th Division in Europe) when he returned to finish his own degree.

Upon their graduation, the two were married 18 August 1948 at the First Baptist Church in Asheville. They moved to Rogersville, Tennessee, and Muriel embarked on her life's work as an educator in the Hawkins County School system. Her first position was as the sole teacher in a one room schoolhouse, where she was expected to mentor children from 1st to 8th grade.

Muriel went on to Rogersville High School and later Cherokee High School where she taught English and eventually spent some 40 years teaching biology to three generations of sophomores.

Upon retirement, proud Tar Heel native Muriel and her husband moved to the Asheville area. Never one to sit back and rest, Muriel began conducting school tours at the Biltmore House. She volunteered also at The Folk Art Center, where at the Information Desk, she interacted with visitors, explaining the Appalachian craft traditions so prevalent in her beloved mountains.

Muriel was active in church life throughout her adult life, beginning at The First Baptist Church in Rogersville and ending at the Providence Baptist Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Muriel is survived by daughter Carole Fowler (George) of Concord, North Carolina; son, Lyons Alexander Hamblen, Jr., and his wife Elva of Dayton, Ohio; and her beloved grandchildren: Alexander Hamblen Fowler and his wife Johana of Charlotte, North Carolina; Julielle Alexandria Hamblen and Lyons Alexander Hamblen III of Dayton. Muriel also leaves behind two great-granddaughters, Helena Marie and Isabella Murielle Fowler, of Huntersville, North Carolina - together with treasured nieces and nephews.

Interment will be private. Donations in Muriel's memory may be made to the Southern Highland Craft Guild, PO Box 9545, Asheville, North Carolina, (www.craftguild.org/donate) or to the charity of one's choice.

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