Earline Mary Lee (Muggley)

Mary Earline (Muggley) Lee, aka Earl All over the world there are sweet, caring and compassionate people. Earline is to be counted as one of them. She embraced people with her warm heart and genuine personality; she will be remembered for her sweet smile that put a little twinkle in her eyes. Those qualities were an integral part of who she was as a person. Her family and friends were the center of her life, which gave her great joy and happiness. Earline was born in Pasadena, CA, Sept. 10, 1942, to Earl and Angeline Muggley. Her father Earl was serving in the U.S. Army during World War II and was stationed in California. After four years of living in Pasadena, her dad moved the family back to Minnesota to their true home in the West Seventh neighborhood of Saint Paul. In 1960, Earline graduated from Monroe High School, Saint Paul, and went to work for Minnesota Mutual Insurance Company in downtown Saint Paul. While in a close friend’s wedding, Earline met a very handsome groomsman named Howard Lee who thought she was beautiful. The courtship began, and eventually they married each other July 2, 1962, in the military chapel at Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX. Earline stayed in Texas with Howard for one more year while he was stationed there in the military, and they were blessed with their first child, Steve. Eventually, they moved back to Minnesota where they rented an apartment around the Saint Paul-Midway area. As Howie and Earline raised their family, they rented her Grandpa Muggley’s home on South Victoria Street in the West 7th Street neighborhood of Saint Paul. They bought their first home on East Orange Avenue on the East Side of Saint Paul shortly after. In 1971, the couple bought their current home in White Bear Lake, MN. They enjoyed their home, neighborhood and neighbors ever since by hosting many family and neighborhood events, as well as being guests during other neighborhood happenings and celebrations. As their neighborhood was full of active kids, there was always something entertaining to do for adults and children alike. She maintained numerous friendships and surrounded herself with caring, fun-loving people. Card parties, casino trips, and playing pull-tabs were just a few of her favorites. Most of the time you could find her sitting on her back patio soaking up the sun, chatting with someone who just stopped by to visit. Earline enjoyed gardening. She planted and groomed beautiful flowers and shrubbery in her yard. The gardens and landscaping attracted many birds and butterflies, which Earline photographed. She shared her pictures by making and gifting handy notecards. Her grand-daughter Margaret Lee says she remembers well the beautiful handmade cards. Beyond the personal cards, Earline ALWAYS remembered birthdays, anniversaries and special events. She was very thoughtful and mailed numerous cards. Holidays were made special by Earline’s decorating and hostessing skills. She embraced them and had a special place in her heart for Easter and Christmas. On Easter, she served a traditional meal, decorated the house with Easter bunnies, dyed eggs and put together Easter egg hunts for the children. For Christmas, over many years, she made grand- and great-grandchild in the family a sparkly hand-embroidered, Christmas stocking to hang on the mantle. Earline was an excellent cook and put together delicious spreads of comfort food for anyone to enjoy. She kept family traditions alive by making Spritz cookies and eventually serving spaghetti and meatballs for Christmas dinner. Earline is noted for her spaghetti sauce and Italian meatballs, a modified recipe she learned from her Italian mother Angeline. In addition, Earline rolled more than 400 meatballs for each grandchild’s graduation party, often with their help. Her meatballs and sauce were in high demand. Earl sewed very well and made the best Halloween costumes for her three young children. She enjoyed carving pumpkins with them, continuing to do so with her grandkids. Her homemade strawberry jelly is just another one of Earl's desired treasures. As a homemaker, her house was made warm and welcoming. It is not unusual to find her adult children and grandchildren of all ages relaxing on the couch while Howard naps in his favorite chair. Earline’s skills and abilities did not end with Easter traditions, Christmas stockings, Halloween costumes, gardening, photography, cooking or homemaking. Her large array of crafting skills also included ceramics, knitting and crocheting, all of which she shared with others. During her working years, Earline made an impact on the City of White Bear Lake by working at City Hall as an secretary to the Engineering and Public Works Department. She retired in 2006 after 25 years of employment there. As a steady volunteer and financial supporter of many select organizations, Earline could be found working at Relay for Life events, coaching softball teams, donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and visiting with family and friends who needed her. Not only was she generous, she had an unwavering faith in God and was easy to talk with and confide in. Howie and Earline created a life close to home. When their children were younger, they would go camping all over Minnesota and spend time together with family friends. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gave her pride and joy. Their happiness was her main concern. In 2012, Earline endured what she said was the hardest thing in her life when her son Steven Michael, 49, lost a courageous fight against cancer, leaving behind his beloved wife Paige and their three children. Earline lived for 74 years. She died early Thursday evening, Jan. 12, 2017, in Oakdale, MN. She is survived by her husband of 54 years Howard Charles Lee of White Bear Lake, MN; brother Charlie (Dee) Muggley of Schroeder, MN; daughter Stacy Lynne (Tim) Lewellyn of Alma, WI; daughter Kristin Suzanne (Greg) Fry of Stillwater, MN; daughter-in-law Paige Lee of North Branch, MN; seven grandchildren: Alexander (Jackie) Floen of Rochester, MN; Cody Floen and Ryan Floen of Stillwater, MN; Delaney Fry of Stillwater, MN; Cole (Jenna) Lee of Seattle, WA; Margaret Lee and Conner Lee of North Branch, MN; two great-grandchildren: Jacoby and Rhett Floen of Rochester, MN; Dylan Lewellyn (Son of Tim & Stacy); niece Robyn (James) Dobbs; niece Jennifer Lee; nephew and Godson Christopher Lee. There are many loyal family members and devoted life-long friends who already miss her already.