Myra S. Abell

HOWLAND - Myra S. Abell, 107, died July 29, 2015 at Shepherd of the Valley in Howland. Myra was born Nov. 12, 1907, in Champaign, Illinois, the daughter of Henry Edward and Allie Frazier Schmalhausen.

She married W. Graham Abell on June 13, 1942. He preceded her in death on April 1, 1999.

She attended Blackburn College, and graduated the University of Illinois in 1931, becoming a high school English teacher in Martinsville, IL. While attending the university, and in the mid 1930's, she was employed in the office of Twin Cities Ice and Cold Storage in Champaign. After earning a degree from the School of Library Science at (Case) Western Reserve University in Cleveland, in 1939, Myra came to Warren to work for the Warren Public Library. She was the first children's librarian to serve on the bookmobile, a new service started in 1938, and liked to recall visiting the various township stops throughout the county.

In 1955, Myra was appointed to the Warren Public Library Board of Trustees, succeeding Phebe T. Sutliff, and she served in that capacity for 19 years. As board treasurer, she was directly involved in the financing of the construction of the new library, dedicated in 1970, and she was proud of the fact that the project was funded entirely by savings and private bequests. She also collaborated with the interior designer in decorating and furnishing the Sutliff Museum.

Myra was a member of the Warren Library Association, and a past member and president of the Ladies Auxiliary of Trumbull Memorial Hospital. Other community volunteer activities included; Elm Road School PTA, Girl Scouts, Cancer Society, and the American Red Cross. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Warren.

Myra is survived by her son, Bill, of Warren.

She was preceded in death by her parents: sister, Josephine S. Shurts; and brother, H. Carroll.

Honoring Myra's wishes, cremation has taken place with a private committal service to follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Warren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, 3695 Boardman-Canfield Road, Suite 301, Canfield, OH, 44406.

Arrangements are entrusted to McFarland and Son Funeral and Cremation Services Co, 271 North Park Avenue, Warren, OH 44481, 330-393-9621. Please visit www.McFarlandCares.com to view this obituary, and send condolences.