(MURFREESBORO) The Heart of Tennessee lost longtime educator and youth mentor Joe Nunley on Friday (4/21/2021). He passed away at Alive Hospice Hospital after an extended illness.
Joe served as an educator to thousands of Rutherford County students over the years, teaching General Science, Ecology and Biology at Oakland and Riverdale High School.
Murfreesboro City School Board Chair Butch Campbell said, “Joe Nunley....WOW !!! What an educator and amazing person. Joe was the rock for many young students as well as many colleagues. A much-respected educator and person, and I enjoyed always talking to him at MTSU ballgames and anywhere I saw him. An ICON of the teaching profession!”
Butch concluded, “Joe was a close friend to another friend of mine, Bob Mayes, who passed away a few months ago. Bob often told me stories about Joe and the conversations the two of them had. I can only imagine the conversation in Heaven between them. Both were great people and each respected the other. I never saw Joe that he did not ask about his friend Bob Mayes. A very caring person--each of them were.”
His love for teaching extended well beyond the classroom, as Joe often took his students on field trips around the state to explore the wonders of Reelfoot Lake, Savage Gulf and the beautiful Stones River.
State Senator Dawn White proclaimed, “I had the honor of having Mr. Nunley as one of my teachers at Riverdale High School. He was a wonderful educator who cared tremendously about his students. His passion for education was evident every day. I enjoyed his classes and have fond memories of him as a teacher. Our community has suffered a significant loss with his passing and I would like to express my condolences to his family and friends.”
Nunley is known to many as a teacher who constantly worked to improve the institutions in which he served.
His son Will Nunley remembers, "My dad's greatest joy was teaching and inspiring. Exploring the wonders of Tennessee and sharing the values of environmental stewardship, curiosity, and love of nature. It was a passion he was blessed to follow for decades."
In the later years of his career, Joe served in the administration the Rutherford County Board of Education and was the recipient of numerous awards.
Joe Was True Blue
Joe Nunley was a proud graduate of MTSU Class of 1969. He was the son of Dr. Joe Nunley, Sr. and Jessie DePriest Nunley. He is survived by his wife Ann, and sons Joe 'Trey' Nunley and Will Nunley. He has two grandchildren, Addison and Ella Grace Nunley; along with four siblings: John, Jeana, Nancy and Mary Ann. He was a proud member of Murfreesboro First Presbyterian Church for some 60 years.
Will noted, "My father was True Blue. His love for MTSU was never ending. He attended every Blue Raider Basketball and Baseball game that he could."
Former State Senator and Blue Raider Alumni Andy Womack remembered, “Joey and I were raised on the MTSC campus at Vet Village after World War II, when our fathers attended after their service time. This was a trailer town where the student center is now located. Our Dads were adult, long best friends."
He continued, "Joey took great pride in helping coordinate the Veterans Day activities at MTSU football games that his father started while Alumni Director.”
Womack concluded, "One of his greatest honors was participating in the annual Salute to Veterans, often held during a football game each November. Each year at halftime, an MTSU veteran's committee presents the Dr. Joe Nunley Distinguished Veteran Award. The honor is named for his father. It was a yearly highlight for my dad to help select and award this honor each year, and our family is committed to continuing this important work."
Joe Loved The ‘Boro
Will said, "Away from work, a perfect weekend for my father was a trip to his family farms in Viola, Tennessee or Linden, Tennessee. Mix the travels with a John Denver tune and slow cooking around a campfire, and all the boxes were checked. His family farms served as the foundation for many of his happiest memories with his family and friends."
He continued, “For the past decade, my father has started each day, visiting the WGNS website. Listening to Truman. Enjoying everything your creation brings to this community. I hope you know how important your radio station is to my entire family. It was my dad's first job. It was my first job.”
The Day Arrived
Joe E Nunley, Jr. passed away peacefully on Friday (4/23/2021) at Alive Hospice Hospital of Murfreesboro surrounded by family.
The Nunley family wishes to thank Jennifer Levi and the entire team at Alive Hospice for making Joe's passing a peaceful, calm, and cherished moment.
He was the son of Dr. Joe Nunley, Sr. and Jessie DePriest Nunley. Joe is survived by his wife Ann, and sons Joe 'Trey' Nunley and Will Nunley. He was two grandchildren, Addison and Ella Grace Nunley. He has 4 siblings: John, Jeana, Nancy and Mary Ann.
Joe was a proud member of the First Presbyterian Church for some 60 years.
Visitation will be Monday (4/26/2021) from 4:00 to 7:00PM at the Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Masks are required out of consideration for the health of family and guests. The funeral will be 11:00 o'clock Tuesday (4/27/2021) morning at Murfreesboro's First Presbyterian Church (College at Spring St.), with burial at 2:30PM at the Mt. Zion Cemetery in Viola, TN. CLICK HERE for the complete obituary.
