Jesse Teel

(From Parker Mortuary)

Jesse W. Teel, age 86, Joplin, passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at his home.

Jesse was born November 13, 1928 in Harper, Kansas, son of the late George Franklin Teel and Ruby Fern Williams Teel. He grew up in Tiff City, Missouri, and graduated from Wyandotte High School. He then attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma before joining the United States Air Force where he served for four years.

After his service to his country, he moved to Pittsburg, Kansas, and attended Pittsburg State University where he finished his bachelor’s degree in education. He continued his education, and earned a Master’s Degree, among other graduate degrees from Pitt State.

He worked in education, mainly in administration, at several school districts, and retired from Rich Hill School District in 1989 after 23 years there. He was a member of the Rich Hill Masonic Lodge, the Rich Hill Lion’s Club, and worked with the Boy Scouts of America. He was also a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church of Joplin.

In addition to his parents, Jesse was preceded in death by his wife, Elma L. Teel who died May 9, 2013, and a sister, Billie Ruth Divine.

Survivors include his children, David Earl Teel of Martinsburg, West Virginia, Norville Paul Teel and Mary Woodhouse of Golden City, Missouri, Nancy Patricia Stanley and husband Randy of Parkville, Missouri, and Kathleen Erin Pinon-Hukriede of Independence, Missouri; grandchildren, Billy Gilkey and wife Alma, Manessa Mercer and husband Jason, Sarah Martinez and husband Bobby, Saline Crouch and husband Jeremy, Erin Battagler and husband Travis, Alex Pinon, Cris Pinon, and Kalea Teel; great-grandchildren, Bailey, Thaddeus, Ethan, Emma, Elliot, Evan, Taylor, Connor, Oliver, Luke, Olivia; one great-great-grandchild, Zaryn.

Memorial services will be Monday, December 29, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at the church following the service.

Private inurnment of his ashes will be in Osborne Memorial Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Rich Hill School District care of Parker Mortuary, to help in getting the new storm shelter built.