William (Bill) Ray Medley died on July 21, 2018 at his home at Butterfield Trail Village in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was the last surviving child of thirteen born to James Samuel and Linnie Pearl Dodson Medley in Lubbock, Texas, on November 20, 1926. He graduated from Lubbock High School, and served in the U.S. Army attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. In 1946, he married Patty Grace Duncan of Springfield (Conway County), Arkansas.
They together attended Arkansas Polytechnic College, (now Arkansas Tech University), and then graduated from the University of Tulsa with both Bachelor and Master degrees in music. They formed a two-piano team which was popular in the United States and Canada and played more than 1,000 concerts in 47 states and 7 Canadian Provinces for Community Concerts and Civic Concerts from New York City, and appeared as soloists with numerous orchestras. They traveled to four cities in Australia to conduct clinics for music teachers featuring his compositions.
In addition to the concert activity, they taught at Arkansas Tech, where they are listed in the “Hall of Distinction,” Parsons College, Fairfield, Iowa, and Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. When they retired from college teaching in 1992, they returned to Fayetteville, Arkansas, where they had previously resided from 1958 to 1963. In 1981, Hal Leonard Publishing Company issued their piano method, “The Medley Way,” which was popular with piano teachers, and is still utilized by many today. In addition, he authored many compositions of sheet music which are also still available.
Bill is survived by his wife, Pat, and one son, Michael Duncan Medley of Washington State. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, 12 siblings and by one son, Matthew Dodson Medley, (Michael’s twin), in 1982. Also surviving are many nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and nieces and great-great-nephews and nieces and a large number of students.
Bill and Pat celebrated their 72nd anniversary on July 12. Although married for 72 years, their love began two years before their marriage. Their motto was Trust in Love, and their deep and abiding love for each other was obvious even in his last days. They each said the words “I love you” to each other many times throughout the day.
Bill was a member of First United Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, and served as Elder and Deacon for the First United Presbyterian Church of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was a member of Phi Mu Alpha, Music Fraternity, and Honorary member of Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity, and was chosen Arkansas Music Teacher of the year along with his wife in 2006. In 2012 they were awarded as Fellows in Music by Music Teachers National Association. The couple and their career are the subject of a doctoral dissertation, “The Legacy of Duo-pianists, Bill and Pat Medley,” written by a former student, Dr. William P. Whipple III. This book is available on-line.
Bill contributed time working for Community Emergency Outreach, and delivering Meals on Wheels for several years, and was a Library volunteer for the Fayetteville Public Library.
Bill taught many piano students. Some of these are now attending and/or teaching in outstanding music schools in the United States. His love for these students, and his ability and interest in introducing them to the world’s best music is his greatest accomplishment. His hope was that through them, this legacy will live on. Some will also remember “Hymns of Praise,” a compact disc recording that Bill made in 2002. It is a collection of original arrangements for piano of well-known hymns. This proved to be very popular both in the United States and Canada.
Memorial services will be held at First United Presbyterian Church, and will be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to “Matthew Medley Memorial Scholarship Fund” at Mount Mercy University, 1330 Elmhurst Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402, or any organization of the donor’s choice.
Pat,
AS you know we loved Bill and will miss him very much. Bill was such a kind and caring man. Judi and I feel very fortunate to have had him as a friend. The world has been left better for having Bill caring and sharing his love for music with so many students. May Bill rest in peace after this long journey.
It was a pleasure to know and work with Bill at Mount Mercy College. He and Pat had such talent and artistry. He was an admirable man. Bill was versatile musician and educator too — we once taught an interim (short term) course on jazz music one January. That was a fun time. My condolences to Pat and Michael.
I was a student of both Bill and Patricia during my two years as a member of Parson’s College last graduating class of June 1973. I transfered in Fall 1971 to Parson’s College to obtain a B.A. Degree in Business Administration from Montgomery College in Rockville Maryland where i had gotten in June 1971 an AA Degree in Engeeriing Aide (now called General Engineering Technology) with a minor in then called Computer Science. As I didn’t have enough Liberal Arts credits, I had the choice of Art Appreviation Class or a Music Appreciation Class. I’ve never had and Interest in Art etc. Unless you include Photography, a holy since Jr. High school. As I Since early childhood grew up listening to classical music, I decided to take the Music Appreciation class, xing my fingers 👉 that I would have to learn how to play a musical instrument. Until the 1st day of class
I was very trepidatious. Both of Bill and Patricia said the class was going to be essentially a class about the Appreciation of Classical music and the lives and history of composer such as Beethoveen and Brahams and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, best known for the 1812 Overture & Peter & the Wofe. Patricia & Biil exposed me to music of Hector Berlioz such as his Symphony Fantasic, and numerous other Programatic pieces such as Carmen. during the classes. I turn out my trepidations for the class were groundless. Part of the class was leaning to recognize such pieces and their movements. Not being musically inclined I found my self in the Music Lab of the Library building listening to the records included with the textbook. It was so enjoyable listening to the classical music over and over to learn the music for the weekly quiz of math weekly quiz on that week’s composer and his music. One piece i still remember is the “March to the Scaffold “. I don’t remember if it was Patricia or Bill that said “if one listens carefully towards the end of the piece one can even hear the blade falling to execute the person and the executed person’s head rolling around in the bin used to capture the cut off head”.
I learned to love the class learned more about the composers who music I heard growing up. The team of Biil and Patricia during the made it a most enjoyable class and listening experience Even when I had completed the class . I found myself in the Music Lab of the Library building with the records from the class and textbooks for other courses. Doing my homework for other classes listening to pleasant music instead of the “noise “rock” music from the other rooms of my GRANT Dorm my 1st year and my QUAD dorm my 2nd year at Parson’s.
Both Bill and Patricia both years there even if I wasn’t one of their current students. I remember one evening my 2nd year at Parson’s, Patricia came into the music laboratory in the library and said Hi & asked me why I was listening to a record from the class last year. I said the noise of my dormmates ” rock music” drove me hear to study with piece of beautiful classical music i remembered from the previous year. ” She was shocked as much as I was when she addressed me by my nickname Jim rather than as Mr Spinks as I typically was address during the prior years 1st semester class.
I’m sorry to learn of their sunsets 🌇 just now.
It’s funny a former Washington Post newspaper daily columnist quite offen would be titled PFLN aka Perfect Fit Last Names about People that he had met with LAST NAMES that were a Perfect Fit Last name for their Job/Profession.
As Bill and Patricia during their Professional life were both a husband and wife team as Duo Concert Pianists. What better last name than “Medley”. 😀