In Memoriam

Murph Tetley '71 earlier this year at the Howard County Bandstand celebration.

Band Alumnus ‘Murph’ Tetley Dies at 72

Benton 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 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.

Former Trustee Hutcherson Passes Away

As a character, there will never be another Dr. John Hutcherson, ‘56. While known to be colorful, and maybe a bit salty, his heart was great and full of compassion. One of his greatest passions, aside from art, travel, skiing, cycling, and his beloved hometown of Palmyra, was education. He was dedicated to providing opportunities for students to be able to obtain an education, funding the Dr. John Hutcherson Hall of Sponsors Scholarship and always keeping up on its recipients. He enjoyed being able to quietly make a difference.

Hutcherson, 86, passed away May 1, 2021 in Colorado.

Friends and classmates reflected on the highly intelligent and cum laude graduate possessing the ability to function in any surrounding. Classmates would share stories of John preparing for an exam the next day, sitting on the edge of a room full of complete disruption and mayhem. He would quietly and quickly read each page, methodically turning the pages as if each were time, before reaching the end of the reading and closing the text. He would always arrive the day of the exam, breeze through the material and effortlessly pass. He would share, however, the most difficult course he ever took, including in med school, was that of Dr. Perry’s English Literature at Central Methodist University.

Hutcherson would lead a distinguished career as a cardiologist and enjoyed sharing his greatest memory from his medical career: meeting First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during his residency at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. He was utterly disappointed from not being able to retire from an already long day with patients and openly grumbling about it all, only to spending the next six hours in the “most interesting conversation in [his] life.” He would reflect saying he could have spent days on end, visiting with her. Hutcherson loved Central and would serve as a curator from 2000-2005 and as a trustee from 2006-2012. He was born August 3, 1934 in Palmyra, Mo. to Lynn and Josephine Schneider Hutcherson. He was preceded in death by his parents and one stepson, Jace Hutcherson. Survivors include a sister, Lynda Jo Hutcherson Bair, a niece, and two grand-nieces. Hutcherson was a 1952 graduate of Palmyra High School and a 1956 graduate of Central Methodist College. Professionally, he started his journey into medicine by earning his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1960, and he followed up by completing an internship and residency at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York in 1962. He then went into the U.S. Army (Medical Corps) as a captain stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska until 1964. Hutcherson performed an additional residency in Internal Medicine at Vanderbilt University in 1966 and rounded off his education by completing a fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease at the University of Colorado. In 2020, he was recognized as a Top Cardiologist in Colorado.

Joe Montgomery, ‘84

Raley Joe Montgomery died September 27, 2021, at his home in Columbia, Mo., surrounded by loved ones after a valiant battle with brain cancer. While this world is truly a lesser place without him, we are blessed to have the memories of Joe’s humor, warmth, and humanity that promise to always bring a smile to our faces.

Joe is survived by his wife of 38 years, Barbara Peters Montgomery; daughters, Morgan and Emma Montgomery; grandchildren, Jina, Juli, and John Daniel; his sister, Barbara Rice; and numerous brothers and sisters-in-law; nieces; nephews; and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and a few cousins.

Joe was born October 22, 1952, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., to Imogene (Malone) and Homer Montgomery. He grew up farming with his family near Bloomfield, Mo., surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He attended Bloomfield Elementary and High School.

After graduating from the Gradwohl School of Laboratory Technique in St. Louis in 1972, Joe began working at the Boonville Medical Group in Boonville, Mo. Inspired by his interactions with colleagues and patients, he went on to study nursing at Central Methodist University, graduating in 1984. The Joe Montgomery Memorial Nursing Scholarship has been established to honor him at his alma mater. He found his true calling in nursing and worked as a registered nurse at the University of Missouri Hospital from 1984-2014 and the Truman VA Medical Center from 2014- 2021. Joe was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law, trusted medical caregiver, and loyal friend. He will be remembered as an avid bicycle rider and for his love of music – particularly jazz, blues, and rock & roll – travel, barbequing, and most of all, spending time with family and friends. He kept them all entertained with his wild stories and crazy songs.

He was a non-traditional student (almost 30 years old when he started at Central Methodist), and he found a very welcoming and supportive faculty and fellow students. It made an enormous difference in his life! Joe himself would make a difference in the lives of many during his time on this earth.

1930s

Mary M. Brorein Abernathy, ’39, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., died Jul. 2, 2021.

1940s

Elnora E. Tucker, ’44, of Kansas City, Mo., died Jul. 30, 2021. Maxine J. Smith Craig, ’46, of Sikeston, Mo., died Jul. 22, 2021. Francis P. Avellone, ’47, of Lake Forest, Ill., died May 28, 2021. Marjorie Crews McMillan, ’48, of Fayette, Mo., died Jul. 13, 2021. Robert H. Easterday, ’49, of Leawood, Kan., died Oct. 12, 2021.

1950s

Shirley Jean Howell Clemons, ’50, of Bonne Terre, Mo., died Oct. 9, 2021. Wesley Edwin Gingrich, ’50, of Boonville, Mo., died Jun. 23, 2021. Cleavo Levern Luelf, ’50, of Washington, Mo., died Jul. 15, 2021. Robert Dean Brown, ’51, of Colorado Springs, Co., died May 10, 2021. Caroline Smith Miller, ’51, of Tyler, Texas, died Apr. 26, 2021. Margo A. Youngstrom Chapman, ’51, of Malibu, Calif., died May 14, 2021. Dale Curtis Whiteside, ’52, of Chillicothe, Mo., died Jul. 4, 2021. George E. Koonce, ’53, of Henderson, Nev., died Apr. 28, 2021. Glenn Francis Ruhl, ’54, of Saint Louis, Mo., died Jun. 27, 2021. Dean Burgess, ’54, of Saint Peters, Mo., died Jun. 5, 2021. Charles H. Moore, ’55, of Fayette, Mo., died Oct. 18, 2021. John D. Hutcherson, ’56, of Englewood, Colo., died May 1, 2021. Shirley Bond Hannah, ‘57, of Mt. Dora, Fla., died Oct. 16, 2021. Terry L. Pritchett, ’57, of Kansas City, Mo., died Aug. 5, 2021. Ted P. Smith, ’57, Rolla, Mo., died Aug. 6, 2021. Suzanne Bahr Smith Linde, ’58, of Jacksonville, Ill., died Sep. 21, 2021. Susan Davis Shepard, ’58, of St. Charles, Mo., died July 28, 2021. Roy C. Moore, ’59, of Saint Charles, Mo., died Jun. 28, 2021.

1960s John Gooch ’59

John Osborn Gooch of Lee’s Summit, Mo., passed away July 11, 2021. Memorial services were November 12.

Dr. Gooch was born August 31, 1938, in Mexico, Mo. After graduating from Wellsville (Missouri) High School, he attended Central Methodist University (CMU) in Fayette, Mo. and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill. He returned to Missouri, where he was ordained as a United Methodist minister and filled pulpits in Shelbyville Circuit, Memphis-Downing, Scotland County Larger Parish (which he helped form and served as the first lead pastor), Bethel (Pond), and Green Trails. He served on the Board of Ordained Ministry and on the Commission of Archives and History, editing Towards the Setting Sun. He was active in youth ministry and began to write church school material. He also earned his PhD in Historical Theology at St. Louis University. He was a gifted teacher, teaching classes at St. Louis University, Eden Theological Seminary, St. Paul School of Theology, Perkins School of Youth Ministry, and his beloved high school students in many congregations.

He moved to Nashville, Tenn., to be an editor at Board of Education and Youth of the United Methodist Church. Following retirement there, he continued to write books and articles (many on youth ministry) and family stories. Two of his recent books of import were Circuit Riders to Crusades: Essays in Missouri Methodist History and Playing with the Big Kids: Central Methodist University, 1982-2010. After moving to John Knox Village (JKV) in Lee’s Summit, Mo., he continued to teach church history classes to fellow residents.

John joined Rotary while in Nashville and became very active after moving back to Missouri. He was a District Governor in 2006-2007 and was quite active with Rotary International Foundation work.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Beth Hammond Gooch; daughter, Nina Gooch, '84, (and Erica French); son, Carl Ollivier-Gooch (and Kelly Ollivier-Gooch); and granddaughters, Kaitlin Ollivier-Gooch (and Kayla Carleton) and Jada Ollivier-Gooch (and Isaac Sandri); and many, many cherished family and friends.

John was a beloved member of the Central Methodist University family. He and his wife Beth would rarely forego an opportunity to visit campus.

Beth Hicks Youle, ’60, of Petersburg, Ill., died Oct. 27, 2021. Charlotte Summers Wenneker, ’60, of Pullman, Wash., died April 23, 2021. Leonard Erhart Bartz, ’61, of Appleton City, Mo., died Apr. 23, 2021. Carol May Meyer, ’61, of Columbia, Mo., died Sep. 9, 2021. Terry J. Williams, ’62, of Warrenton, Mo., died Aug. 9, 2021. Joy Ownbey Strickler, ’63, of Surprise, Ariz., died May 25, 2021. C. Wayne Schoolfield, ’65, of Kissimmee, Fla., died Jul. 1, 2021. Mary Lou Perry Veirs, ’65, of Unionville, Mo., died Oct. 18, 2021. Maurice H. Wilson, ’65, of Springfield, Va., died Aug. 23, 2021. Alan L. Weatherford, ’67, of Eldon, Mo., died April 13, 2021. Richard A. Gray, ’68, of Lakeside, Calif., died Sept. 19, 2021. Janet L. Cotton Bond, ’68, of Independence, Mo., died Aug. 13, 2021. Jeanne Kay Burgess Borders, ’69, of Kennesaw, Ga., died July 27, 2021.

1970s

William A. Rice, ’73, of Jerseyville, Ill., died Sep. 18, 2021. Sheldon J. Gentry, ’74, of Lohman, Mo., died Aug. 28, 2021. Lowell Carey Bankhead Jr., ’78, of Jefferson City, Mo., died Aug. 14, 2021. Jeannie Tausch, ’78, of Glasgow, Mo., died May 13, 2021.

1980s

George W. Gibson, ’80, of Boonville, Mo., died Apr. 15, 2021. Andrew G. Diehls, ’82, of Moberly, Mo., died Jun. 15, 2021. Raley J. Montgomery, ’84, of Columbia, Mo., died Sep. 27, 2021. John L. Sauer, ’86, of Jackson, Mo., died Jun. 7, 2021.

1990s

Betsy Alane Oglesbee, ’92, of Nixa, Mo., died Jul. 28, 2021. Cesar Eduardo M. Velez, ’93, of San Antonio, Texas, died Aug. 15, 2021. Robert E. Fatherley, ’95, of Jefferson City, Mo., died Aug. 7, 2021. Randy J. Donawa, ’98, of Kissimmee, Fla., died May 31, 2021. Rebecca L. Hall, ’98, of Boonville, Mo., died Aug. 8, 2021. Gala Marie York, ’98, of Sullivan, Mo., died Sep. 19, 2021.

2000s

Patricia Ann Crowley, ’05, of Fayette, Mo., died Oct. 9, 2021. Daniel Paul Elliott, ’09, of Fayette, Mo., died Aug. 6, 2021.

2010s

Tiffanie Maxine Peters, ’13, of Billings, Mo., died Sep. 12, 2021. Jeffrey L. Bramer II, ’17, of Union, Mo., died Oct. 1, 2021.

CMU Friends, Former Faculty, Staff

Dick Crockett of Kansas City, Mo., died Aug. 24, 2021. Linda H. Dreyer of San Antonio, Texas, died June 10, 2021. Jane Franck of Columbia, Mo., died October 7, 2021. William G. Marshall of Fayette, Mo., died Sept. 25, 2021. Joanne H. Jackson of Richmond, Mo., died Aug. 30, 2021. E. Eugene Rooney of Jefferson City, Mo., died Oct. 16, 2021. From left to right; "Playing dress up," Robert Hagan oil on canvas; "Hermit Rim Road," Thomas Moran chromolithograph; "Lewis & Clark," Ellery Johnson '56 watercolor.

Johnson Works Coming to Ashby-Hodge

The first exhibit in the Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art for 2022 will feature Central alumnus Ellery Johnson, ’56, whose sculptures, paintings, pottery, and jewelry earned him national renown. Johnson, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 83, graduated from Central Methodist College with a bachelor’s degree in art, then served in the Army for three years. He worked as a middle school art teacher in the Hazelwood school district from the ‘70s to the mid- ‘90s, all while continuing to study art, education, Spanish, and art history at various universities. Johnson’s life and art were influenced heavily by his interest in Native American history and culture.

Johnson’s works will be on display in Galleries 1 and 2 from January 30 to April 21, while pieces from the Glenn ’51 and Veronica Cox collection currently on display will move to Gallery 3. Gallery 3 will also include a quintet of works by Thomas Moran and a tribute to Black artists. Visitors will be able to view both collections on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Special tours are also available by contacting curator Denise Haskamp at 660248-6304 or dhaskamp@centralmethodist. edu.