After Ross sat School Certificate, Muriel decided to go to night school and passed School C English, then History the following year. Some years later she went to Rutherford College when they started taking adult students and obtained University Entrance. Several years later she returned to nursing (after 29 years), this time at Waitakere Hospital doing geriatric nursing (after a one week "on the job" re-introduction). She was instrumental in changing the "re-introduction" program for nurses returning to the craft. Muriel was just getting to really enjoy this when she injured her back lifting a patient and never recovered sufficiently to return to nursing.

Muriel has always been active in church life. She was brought up in the Saint's Church, now officially known as the Community of Christ, and was the Herald House Book Steward for New Zealand. Other interests include the New Lynn CAB (Citizens' Advice Bureau) [22 years service], Meals on Wheels [7 years], raising funds for the Hospice [4 years] and was a volunteer at "The Upstairs Gallery", Lopdell House, Titirangi.