Bryce Turville

Bryce was born July 11th, 1926, and passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 30th 2024 at the age of 97.

Through his faith in Jesus Christ, Bryce will be reunited with his wife Norma who was the love of his life and best friend along with his precious daughter Marsha, his parents, brothers, family members and friends who have preceded him into heaven. Bryce leaves behind many loved ones including his son Mark, granddaughter Sarah, great-grandsons Pete and Emmitt, Tom, who he considered his son, sisters in-law Carolyn and Beverly, brother-in-law Richard, all of his other family members, friends and the wonderful nurses, aids and staff whose care, kindness and love were so appreciated.

In the 1930’s in Kansas City there was no 8th grade, so Bryce went from 7th grade to Westport High School as a freshman. Bryce developed his love for music from his mother and brother Frank. Frank played the Bassoon but had joined the military when Bryce was starting high school. Frank left his bassoon at home so Bryce could use it to join the high school band. Bryce graduated high school at 16. After finishing high school, Bryce auditioned for the Kansas City Philharmonic and was accepted. The assistant conductor with the Philharmonic had been a member of the Chicago Symphony and asked Bryce if he would be interested in going to Chicago to take lessons from Hugo Fox, one of the best bassoonists in the country. Bryce accepted and spent 2 months in Chicago. During this time, the US had joined World War II and Bryce joined the Navy. Bryce spent his 18th birthday on a 3-day train ride to San Diego for boot camp. After boot camp Bryce was assigned to a cargo ship called LSM 243. The ship’s first mission was as a standby for the invasion of Okinawa. After leaving Okinawa the ship went to Guam to pick up Japanese American radio translators and a deck full of telephone poles with their next destination of Iwo Jima. After a few days harbored in Iwo Jima the ship’s captain asked Bryce to report to his office. A Red Cross member had called the ship to see if Bryce was on board because his brother Frank, who was on Iwo Jima wanted to come out to visit Bryce.

After 23 months in the Navy Bryce was discharged and went back to Kansas City and his career in the Philharmonic. Bryce was also playing in other orchestras in Kansas City and met a beautiful brunette Oboe player named Norma. Norma and Bryce were married in 1948. Since the Philharmonic season only lasted 26 weeks a year Bryce knew that if he was going to stay in KC and have a family, he would need to make some different career choices. Bryce began college at the UMKC music conservatory and in 1950 was hired by the Kansas City School district as an elementary band teacher. As luck would have it, Starlight Theater was opened in 1950 and Bryce was hired to be a member of the Starlight Orchestra. During this time Bryce began learning to play the upright bass. During the next 30 plus years, Bryce taught school, played bassoon, then bass at Starlight and played bass almost every weekend at country clubs, weddings or parties.

In 1956 Bryce and Norma adopted a baby girl and named her Marsha and in 1959 they adopted a baby boy and named him Mark. In 1984 Marsha gave birth to Bryce’s granddaughter Sarah. Three months later Marsha passed away after her battle with Lupus, at the age of 27. Sarah was a blessing to Bryce and Norma, and they visited her in North Dakota almost every year and took her on many trips with them including to Great Britain and Italy. Bryce and Norma loved to travel and went to many countries around the world including the Netherlands, France, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and others. Bryce continued to play in bands until he was 89 and enjoyed gardening until he was 93.

Trying to put into words my father’s life is impossible so I will try and do my best.

Bryce was a man of God who loved and cherished his wife and best friend Norma, more than any other man I have ever known. He loved and sacrificed for my sister and I in every way possible. He was a great father but even a better man. He was strong but quiet. He was so talented but even more humble. He was shy but even more engaging. He was smart but even more curious to learn. He was wise but even more non-judgmental. He was a man of giving but even more a man of unconditional love. He was a man of honor and courage but even more a man of modesty. He was all of these and so much more. He was a man like many other men and women of his generation who put God, family, and country first. The greatest generation who never knew or thought they were great.

I know if I asked him who he was, he would have told me he was Norma's husband and my father and that’s who he always wanted to be.

A Visitation will occur Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. A Funeral Service will follow at 1:00 PM.