Muriel J. La Rue, 73, social worker educator, died March 16 after a long illness. For five decades, she provided caring social services to those who needed encouragement and advice. She was bron in Salt Lake City and attended public schools and the University of Utah. In 1951 she married Joseph D. La Rue of Pocatello, Idaho, moving to Chicago. She earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago. She began her professional career at Cook County Department of Public Aid. Subsequently she worked for Chicago Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers, Chicago Child Care Society and Chicago City Collegs. Her consulting experience included work for Chicago Board of Health, Department of Children and Family Services, Hull House, Head Start and Salem House. She worked in caseworker training, foster care and adoptions, para-professional training and social work education. She retired in 1993 as associate professor, having taught at KennedyKing, Harold Washington and Malcolm X colleges. At Kennedy King, she also served as department head. She held several offices in the Leaugers, a fund-raising auxiliary founded in 1955 for the Chicago Urban League. She had a warm and vibrant personality and was a marvelous cook. She shared her husband’s love for music and she often accompanied him as he conducted out-of-town architecture tours for Chicago Architecture Foundation docents. She loved to talk to people and she enjoyed travel. To her daughter, Christine, she was a confidante and a constant companion. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 23, at St. Mark United Methodist Church, 8441 S. Lawrence. Funeral service follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery.
