Muriel Frank Rayson

Muriel Frank Rayson, 92, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away Thursday, November 11, 2021, at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, Kansas. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church, Ottawa. Family will meet with friends from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., Monday, November 15, 2021, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa. Interment Highland Cemetery, Ottawa. Muriel was born June 20, 1929, in Tungjen Kweichow, China, the daughter of missionaries Herbert Searl and Emeline Thusnelda (vonWald) Frank. She lived in Tungjen Kweichow, China and in Yuanling Hunan, China and due to the war, moved with her family to Bellingham, Minnesota in 1939 and to Farmington, Minnesota in 1945. She graduated from Farmington High School with the Class of 1946 and was a graduate of North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics and Bible and Religious Education. Muriel was united in marriage to Ralph LeRoy Rayson June 11, 1951, in Farmington, Minnesota. They celebrated nearly 58 years together. He preceded her in death on September 3, 2009. She taught school one year in Randolph, Minnesota from 1950 to 1951, and one year in Warrenville, Illinois from 1951 to 1952. Muriel devoted her life to her family and the church. She worked with her husband throughout his career as a minister in the Evangelical United Brethren and United Methodist Church. Muriel was employed seven years as secretary at Topeka Grace United Methodist Church; and four years at a Holton Nursing Home. She was very active in United Methodist Women and its preceding organizations through the years. She also taught Sunday school and at Vacation Bible School. She was also preceded in death by her parents; brother Joel S. Frank; grandson Sebastian Rayson; great-granddaughter Lidda Larcom; and daughter-in-law Jenny Rayson. Survivors include six children, David E. Rayson (Evelyn) of Haysville, KS, Carolyn J. Scott of Manhattan, KS, Gary D. Rayson (Karen) of Las Cruces, NM, Paul F. Rayson (Donna) of Ottawa, KS, Robert R. Rayson (Mary) of Chesapeake, VA, Philip J. Rayson (Kristal) of Independence, MO; 15 foster children; sixteen grandchildren, Amanda Mauldin (Jonathan), Jennifer Johnson (Mike), Heather Tierney (Charlie), Jason Scott (Jamie), Matthew Scott, Kevin Rayson, Delana Marrufo (Alfredo), Kathryn Adkins, Christian Rayson (Athena), Mary Larcom (Derrick), John Rayson (Allie), Emily Rayson, Sierra Bullard (Andrew), Samantha Allen (Rocky), Caleb Rayson, and Maryssa Rayson; and twenty-three great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorial contributions to Ottawa First United Methodist Church or Koronis Ministries c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.