Grace Muller

Grace Alberta Starlin Muller passed away Saturday, April 8, 2023, at the age of 104. She was born in Staten Island, NY. After high school graduation she worked retail in New York City and loved singing alto in the choir of St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church. She had a great love for all types of music, including secular, classical, Broadway, and jazz. Growing up, many summer vacations were spent at Shipbottom, New Jersey. Riding the ocean waves on inflated pillowcases, building sandcastles, and playing Skee-Ball were a tradition with her siblings and then with her own family. After marriage, she resided in New York and Ohio, moving to the Madison area in 1959. She took great pride in her work as a data processor at Wayside Gardens (Mentor), Reliance Electric (Ashtabula), and retired from Elwell Parker (Cleveland). Grace was a member of Madison Central Congregational Church, participating in the Mary-Martha group, assisting with many functions including serving dinners, and singing in the choir. She enjoyed the company of the Needles and Chatterers sewing group, and made many clothes and Halloween costumes for her children as they were growing up. Grace made beautiful cross stitch tablecloths. She loved to bake, a skill she passed on to the next generations. She was also a member of the Madison Historical Society. Grace was known for her passion for gardening – her yard was filled with beautiful flowers for every season. Her roses were her pride and joy, often winning awards at flower shows for their exquisite blooms. She traveled throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as a few trips to Europe. She toured frequently with her sister Martha; their trips brought them much joy and laughter together, sharing colorful stories of their adventures with friends and family. Above all, Grace was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt. She is survived by her daughters Gail Kincaid and Marylou Elwell (Ned); grandchildren Suzanne Vincent (Gary), Linda Leon, Kristen West (Scott), and Bethany Bowley (Michael); and six great-grandchildren Abigail, Noah, Davis, Graham, Grace and Tessa. She is also survived by her nieces Jayne Hurst Geneva (Louis), Sherri Hurst, Pamela Letts, Dorothy Heffner (Donald), nephew Jeffrey Letts, and their families. She was preceded in death by her sisters Martha Hurst of Geneva, OH and Althea Letts, brother Ethelbert Starlin, former husband Henry Muller, son-in-law Dale Kincaid, and grandson Brent Elwell. The family wishes to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the medical staff and caregivers at Bethany Nursing Home in Canton, OH for their compassionate and loving care during her years living there. A funeral service under the direction of the Behm Family Funeral Home, 26 River Street, Madison, will be held at 12:00 pm on Thursday, April 20, 2023.  Family and friends will be received at the funeral home from 11:00 am to the time of the service. Burial will immediately follow at the North Madison Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, donations may be made in Grace’s memory to the Central Congregational Church Memorial Fund, 71 Park Street, Madison, OH 44057 or to the Arthritis Foundation, 1355 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30309 - include in the memo line NE Ohio Chapter.  Online obituary and condolences may be viewed at www.behmfuneral.com