Teresa Ann Godfrey

Terri Godfrey
Teresa Ann Godfrey, 58, was born February 21, 1954 in Centerville, Iowa, one of two children of Neal Robert (Bob) Martin and Jo Ann Murphy. She passed away December 12, 2012 at her home near Unionville, MO after a long illness.

Teresa (Terri) attended school in Unionville graduating from Unionville High School in 1972. During high school she played the flute, was solo twirler, drum majorette of the band and a member of the National Honor Society. Her junior year she was chosen for the REC youth tour of Washington, DC. Terri continued her education at Northeast Missouri State University earning a bachelor’s degree in 1976 and later a Master of Arts Degree in Elementary Education in 1987.

In 1976 Terri started teaching Kindergarten in a trailer north of the old Unionville Elementary building. She taught Kindergarten 10 years, 1st grade 9 years and 2nd grade 3 years. She served as local CTA president, held numerous district level offices and then became president of the Northeast district of the Missouri State Teachers Association. Terri was one of the original trainers with the Missouri Reading Initiative where she also worked for three years under contract with Putnam County Schools. Terri would often state, “Kids are my business.” In 2004 Terri retired from the Putnam County School system and began a second career with Truman State University as Literacy Director of the Northeast Regional Professional Development Center. As Literacy Director she conducted training seminars for teachers at schools throughout northeast Missouri. In 2010 she retired after 34 years of dedication to educating Missouri students.

On January 18, 1992 Terri married Gary Godfrey at their home south of Unionville. Terri and Gary enjoyed many wonderful experiences traveling together with friends and business associates. After retirement Gary and Terri spent last winter in Arizona. Terri loved flowers, shrubs, decorating, home renovations, shopping and rainbows. But her true joy in life was her family. Terri considered her two precious daughters and four grandchildren her greatest accomplishment.

Terri leaves her beloved husband Gary, her daughter, Tori Godfrey of Chico, CA; her daughter Richelle Lee and her husband Travis Lee of Kirksville, MO; four grandchildren, Jordyn Richae Tipton, Keaton Lee, J. Parker Lee and Jake Lee, all of Kirksville, MO. She also leaves her mother Jo Ann Murphy of Unionville.

She is preceded in death by her brother Tom Martin, her father Bob Martin, father and mother in-laws Bill and Jessie Godfrey, maternal grandparents Wayne and Mary McCalment and paternal grandparents Neal and Blanche Martin. Funeral services will be held at Playle-Jones Funeral home in Unionville, MO on December 15, 2012 with interment at the Unionville Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given in Teresa Godfrey’s memory to the Putnam County Elementary Library.