James Leroy Tipling

James Leroy Tipling, 76, died March 26, 2010, at St. John's hospital in Springfield, Mo., after a brief illness. He was born in Atchison, Kan., on Feb.4, 1934. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Edith Tipling of Arrington, Kan. and a son, Scott Tipling of Kansas City.

He is survived by his wife Martha of Nevada; daughters, Margo Shull and her husband Mark, of Springfield, Mo., Terry Malesky and husband Joe, of Strafford, Mo., Andrea Foulkes and husband Ted, of Kansas City, Mo.; stepdaughters, Misty McGraw and husband Vernon, of Nevada, and Dr. Stormy Adams Moore and husband Dr. James "Doug" Moore, of Lewisburg, W.Va.; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; brother, Dr. Roger Tipling and wife Sheila, of Springfield, Mo. ,and one niece and nephew.

Jim attended elementary school in Atchison, Kan., and was a graduate of Atchison County Community High School in 1952. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard until he returned home to run the family store in Arrington, Kansas. He completed a bachelor's degree in music education at Kansas University in 1963. He also acquired a masters degree in music education, 1971, and specialist degree in educational administration from Central Missouri State University, 1974.

He taught music at Everest, Effingham and Stanley and Stillwell, Kan. He served the education field for more than 50 years as a teacher, principal and superintendent in Belton, Mount Vernon, Mansfield, Bland, Metz, Bozworth, Roscoe and Hudson, Mo. He was well known for his piano abilities and played in numerous bands and nightclubs in Kansas City and other locations and taught at a music conservatory in Pismo Beach, Calif.

Memorial services will be held at the St. Bernadette Catholic Church, Highway 254, Hermitage, Mo., on Saturday, April 24. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m.. Donations may be made in his name to the church in lieu of flowers.