Murph Tetley '71 earlier this year at the Howard County Bandstand celebration.
Band Alumnus ‘Murph’ Tetley Dies at 72
B
enton Murphy Tetley, ’71, an active Central band alum and one of the key organizers of the Howard County Bandstand celebration in the spring, passed away July 4 in Hot Springs Village, Ark. He was 72. “Murph” was born to Bill and Lorene (Reesy) Tetley in Butler, Mo., where he lived in his early years. He had two older brothers, Fred and Tony Tetley. After leaving Butler, the family moved to Rolla, where he attended school until he was in junior high. He played French horn in the band, with his father as his band director. The family later moved to Jefferson City, where he graduated from Jefferson City Senior High School and lived until he went to college. He met his future wife, Linda Ann Gray, while in high school, and married her in Jefferson City the summer before their senior year in college. When Murph graduated from Central Methodist College with a degree in music education, and Linda with a degree in education from the University of Missouri, they moved to Gallatin for his first band
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director’s job. They next moved to Carrollton, where he taught band for four years. His bands, both in Gallatin and Carrollton, received many top marks at contests, and the kids learned much about music, as well as life, from Murph. Leaving Carrollton, and band directing, he and Linda returned to Jefferson City, where he lived for the next 30 years. First United Methodist Church was a central part of his life there, where he sang in the choir. He and Linda were members of the Fisherman Sunday School Class, where they met most of their very closest and lifelong friends. Murph started a successful software business in Jefferson City with his brother, Tony. He was the perfect salesman, with his outgoing personality and knowledge of technology. For the last part of his working years, he returned to his first love, teaching. This time it was at William Woods University. Murph wrote the William Woods Fight Song and gave the copyright to the University. The Murphy Tetley Award was established, with him as the first recipient.
Murph had enthusiasm for all the things he ever did and worked tirelessly on all his projects and interests. These included, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, the Central Methodist University band program, Fayette Memorial Bandstand, Mokane United Methodist Church, Christ of the Hills United Methodist Church Choir, and many others. He was a key organizer of the Central Methodist University band tour stop in Hot Springs Village two years ago. Murph is survived by his wife, Linda, of 50 years of marriage; his son Alan Tetley, and his wife Megan; two grandsons, Jackson and Wyatt Tetley, all of Redwood City, Calif. He is survived by two brothers, Fred Tetley (Linda Joyce) of Hot Springs, Ark. and Tony Tetley (Kathy) of Columbia; sister-in-law Sandra Jannick of Hot Springs Village, Ark.; and brother-in-law Larry Gray of Lee’s Summit. Memorials are suggested to the Central Methodist University Band Program or Garvan Woodlands Gardens Sugg Garden Train.
