John Warren Stanley passed away Saturday, July 10, 2021, in Springfield, Missouri at the age of 84. His wife, Betty, son Kirk and daughter Shelly were at his side.

John was born on June 26, 1937, in Wichita, Kansas to parents John and Velma Stanley. He graduated from West High School and attended two years at Oklahoma Baptist University then transferred to Baylor University in Waco, Texas where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music, emphasis on Composition and Piano.

It was in Waco at a Sunday night church service that he met his wife, Betty, and seven months later they began a 60-year journey filled with love, adventures, and music.

John attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas on a fellowship where he earned his Master's degree.  He taught at several Junior Colleges in Texas before moving to Missouri where he taught for fifteen years at Mineral Area college in Flat River (now Park Hills).  While there, he had many choral compositions published that were sung by choirs in many states.  Two of his arrangements were performed by local Springfield high schools.

He loved Jazz and directed and wrote for a jazz band when he was teaching and, using his unique creativity, he wrote hundreds of piano arrangements of hymns for his own enjoyment.  Saturday night jazz chords crept into his hymn arrangements and made smiles and a bit of foot taping when he played at churches.

He enjoyed family camping trips, skiing and boating on Table Rock Lake with a caravan of friends.  Memories with their group of snow skiing and snowmobiling in Colorado were dimmed as a blizzard accompanied their return to Missouri.

After his love for family and music, there was college basketball and particularly the Kansas Jayhawks. Those games were the only time he asked not to be interrupted but cheering for the opposition was allowed.

Those summer weeks of camping and boating on the lake influenced John to retire from teaching in 1985 when he and Betty bought a resort on Table Rock Lake.  In Branson he found a new avenue to use his musical talent; square dancing and round dancing, a form of ballroom dancing.  He became a Caller for squares and later a Cuer for the round dancers. John and Betty spent 5 winters in Tucson, AZ teaching dance classes.  They lived in Kimberling City, Missouri 28 years before moving to Springfield to be closer to family.

John is survived by his loving wife, Betty, son Kirk Stanley, and daughter Shelly Stanley.  Four grandchildren, Arianna Stanley Mueller/ Kevin, Danielle Metz, Cory Metz, Bradley Metz.  Brothers Glenn Stanley, Larry Stanley/ Sandra, Ed Stanley/Dianne, Sister-in-laws Martha Krause and Alice Craw/ Richard, many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

He spent hours a day at the piano creating new or editing old arrangements.  The piano is now silent but he made many CD's so he will lighten our hearts always as we listen to his music and believe there will be some toe tapping on high.

Private services on Saturday, July 17, 2021, will be held at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home in Springfield, Missouri.  Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Branson MO.