Muriel Howard Bennison

Muriel Howard Bennison, 93, died October 14, 2014. She was born in Amsterdam, New York and was raised in Minaville, New York. Muriel graduated from New York State College for Teachers in Albany in 1941. She worked for GE until she met and married, William H. Bennison and then traveled with him over his military career over 27 years. They settled in Dallas, TX in 1969, where she focused on raising her family. Muriel moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2000. After Hurricane Katrina, she spent 5 years in Wichita Falls, TX prior to moving back to the coast. Mrs. Bennison chose to donate her body to UMC in Jackson, Mississippi for teaching and medical research. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to Trinity United Methodist Church, 5007 Lawson Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39530 or Methodist Senior Services, Seashore Highlands, 12170 Highlands Way, Gulfport, MS 39503 or the charity of their choice. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Settler’s Point Personal Care Home for their love and care provided to Mrs. Bennison. Muriel was preceded in death by her husband, William H. Bennison; her parents, Dr. Harry S. Howard and Anne Jones Howard; and a brother, Harry S. Howard, Jr. She is survived by her daughters, Margaret B. (Duncan) McKenzie of Biloxi and Elizabeth Turlington “Ray” of Wichita Falls, TX; her son, Thomas G. Bennison, of Dallas, TX; grandchildren, Lindsay (Greg) Simmons of Dallas, TX, Caroline Gellner of Wichita Falls, TX, Blake Bennison of Dallas, TX, Kelly (Bobby) McElmurry of Houston, TX and Jamie McKenzie of Biloxi, MS; and great-grandchildren, Gavin Gellner of Wichita Falls, TX, Dylan Gellner of Wichita Falls, TX, Audrey Gellner of Wichita Falls, TX, Ryan Simmons of Dallas, TX and Alison Ford of Dallas, TX. Visitation will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gulfport, MS on Saturday, October 18, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00. A Memorial Service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place at a later date at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery next to her husband.