Bradford Lyle Meredith

Brad was born March 15, 1954 to Patricia and Lyle Meredith in Hays, Kansas. He was the oldest of four sons. He is survived by his wife, Debbie Jones-Meredith, Olathe, Kansas; his mother Patricia Meredith, Dodge City, Kansas; sons, Mitch Meredith and Monte Meredith, Gulfport, Florida; step-daughters, Shelly Rice, Overland Park, Kansas and Sheila Tasset, Leawood, Kansas. In addition he is survived by brothers Michael, Douglas and Jason Meredith, Dodge City, Kansas; grandchildren, Colby Smith, Gulfport, Florida; Landon Tasset, Malibu, California; Mason Tasset, Columbia, Missouri; Daniella Tasset, Leawood, Kansas and Brooklyn Rice, Overland Park, Kansas; niece Audra Birchfield (and husband Josh), Amarillo, Texas; nephew Logan Meredith, Amarillo, Texas; great niece Aleia Birchfield and great nephew Vincent Birchfield, both from Amarillo, Texas.

Brad was preceded in death by his father Lyle Meredith in 2015.

Brad graduated from Dodge City Senior High School in 1972. He received his Bachelors of Music Education degree (1984), Masters of Education in Instructional Technology degree (2006) and PhD of Education Philosophy degree (2009). Brad also attended Phillips Theological Seminary where he received his Masters of Divinity (1997) and Oklahoma City University receiving his Masters of Music Voice Performance (1999).

Brad began teaching in Ashland, Kansas. His passionate love of music led him to a career in public education which took him from Kansas to Oklahoma to Florida to Missouri. Most of his career was spent at Osceola High School, Seminole, Florida, where he was instrumental in building successful band and choral programs, including marching band, musical productions, show choir, concerts and student participation in district/state competition. He served as an Adjunct Music Instructor at St. Petersburg College directing musical theatre productions and private voice instruction.

He finished his career at Midway K-12, Cleveland, Missouri as Vocal Music Teacher. Under his guidance, the vocal music program flourished. Brad saw the need for musical theatre as a necessary component of the music program. Audiences have been delighted by his productions of “Wizard of Oz”, “Alice in Wonderland”, “Grease”, “High School Musical” and “Brigadoon”. The Christmas concerts, spring concerts and the high school chorus’s acapella performance of our national anthem at ballgames were loved by parents and grandparents. Brad has been a judge for both Kansas and Missouri district and state music competitions.

As an ordained minister Brad served at Chapel by the Sea Community Church, Clearwater Beach, Florida; Crystal Beach Community Church, Crystal Beach, Florida; and most recently at Cleveland Christian Church, Cleveland, Missouri. Brad’s love for Jesus, family and music filled his heart. He released his sacred CD entitled “The Journey Begins” in 2006.

It was once said that the measure of a man is not how much he loves but by how much he is loved. This is evidenced by the number of students pausing to reflect on not only his teaching skills but his ability to inspire and challenge themselves to reach into their hearts and experience the joy of music. No matter the level of expertise or desire, all who entered his classroom were met with expectations, challenges, and a genuine concern for their success as musicians and as people.

Celebration of Brad’s love for life will be at 10:30 am, Saturday, March 30, 2019 at Midway K-12 School, 5801 E. State Rt. 2, Cleveland, MO 64734, with Ilona Buzick presiding. There will be no public viewing, cremation has taken place. The family suggests memorials to Cleveland Christian Church, PO Box 144, Cleveland, Missouri 64734 or the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, on line at tribute.themmrf.org/BradMeredith