Muriel Little, Political Columnist; Hosted Public Tours Of Capitol

Muriel Keith Little, a journalist and state Senate hostess who was first to organize public tours of Olympia's legislative chambers, died Friday at Group Health Hospital. She was 75.

Mrs. Little died of complications from emphysema, according to her daughter, Eileen.

She had a long career in politics and journalism.

"Muriel was 100 percent professional, yet also a warm and caring person," said Wes Uhlman, former state senator and former Seattle mayor.

In 1960, Mrs. Little ran an unsuccessful bid against Uhlman and others to represent Seattle's 32nd district in the state House of Representatives.

After the election, Mrs. Little worked as a House aide, organizing tours of the legislative chambers to demystify the lawmaking process and working with young legislative pages.

"She was a surrogate mother to hundreds of young (pages)," added Uhlman. "She advised them on how not to be cynical of the process they were watching and also made sure they didn't stay out all night."

"She always a very pleasant, very gracious person. That is why the program was so effective," said Trudy Weckworth, former editor of The North Central Outlook, where Mrs. Little was a political columnist for more than 30 years.

As a journalist, Mrs. Little's political columns made The Outlook, a neighborhood weekly, unique. She knew many of the legislators personally and provided local readers a unique perspective on state politics, according to Stan Stapp, former Outlook publisher.

Mrs. Little received both state and national awards for her reporting. In 1975, she was elected president of the Washington Press Women's Association. She was instrumental in opening the organization to men and in promoting the work of tribal newspapers.

"She kept us up with current legislation (being passed) and was always willing to give of herself," remembered Patricia Goudy, former editor of The Yakima Nation Review, a tribal newspaper.

Mrs. Little became the second woman appointed to the Seattle Housing Board of Commissioners, where she served 10 years. When she died, she was secretary-treasurer of the Housing Development Corporation of Washington and a member of the Association of Washington Generals.

She is survived by three children: Eileen, of Seattle, Robert, of Lynnwood, and Phillip, of Chelan; four grandchildren; Chad Little, of Everett; Sean Little, of Seattle; Cheri Little, of Lynnwood; and David Stach, of Everett; brother-in-law, Arthur Wall, of Burlingame, Ca.; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Funeral services are planned for St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Fremont Avenue North and North 43rd Street, at 1 p.m. tomorrow.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church social-service programs, American Lung Association or charity of the donor's choice.