Marybelle Mueller

Marybelle Dailey Mueller of Jackson died Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Sept. 16, 1927, in Chillicothe, Missouri, to Ernest Woollen and Margaret Lloyd Keiper Dailey. She and Paul A. Mueller Jr. were married June 23, 1951, at Albuquerque, New Mexico. He preceded her in death March 12, 1986.

Mueller was a retired associate circuit judge of Cape Girardeau County. She was first appointed as a judge in 1955 and was the first woman lawyer selected as a judge in the state of Missouri. She served for 27 years as an active judge and for four more years as a senior judge under the direction of the Missouri Supreme Court. She graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, in 1948, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and the University of Missouri-Columbia with a law degree in 1950.

She was a member of the Missouri Bar and New Mexico Bar, president of the Cape Girardeau County Bar and the Missouri Judicial Conference. She frequently wrote articles for Missouri Bar publications and assisted with seminars. She also wrote articles for the Southeast Missourian on seniors and the law.

Her civic activities included former regent of John Guild Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, president of Chapter DJ of PEO, secretary of Cape Girardeau Mill Tax Mental Health Board, secretary of the board of trustees of Jackson Senior Center, former president of the board of trustees of Old McKendree Chapel and member of American Legion Auxiliary. She was a former member of the advisory boards of KRCU and Friends of Music, Jackson Park Board and a former member of Downtown Rotary Club of Cape Girardeau.

She was a member of New McKendree United Methodist Church and served on its various boards and committees. She also served on the district and conference boards of trustees of United Methodist Church.

Mueller was a member of the Democratic Party at the national, state and local level, including Byrd Township, Cape Girardeau County and the women's organizations.

At the time of her retirement in 1995, she was the only woman judge in Southeast Missouri (and so far none have taken her place).

Survivors include her five children, Paulette (Lewis) Frazee of Dallas, Dr. Janet Mueller of Tucson, Arizona, Dr. Robert (Elizabeth) Mueller of Columbus, Ohio, and Mary Harriet (Greg) Talbut and Barbara Mueller, both of Jackson; and six grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and three sisters.

All services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Old McKendree Memorial Association, New McKendree United Methodist Church or Margaret Keiper Dailey Award at University of New Mexico Law School.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.