10/8/1943 – 10/31/2026
Lawrence
Bryan A. Grove was born in Axtell, KS on October 8th, 1943 to Paul and Ida Grove, and passed away peacefully on October 31st, 2026 in Eudora, KS. His last days were filled with love and private laughter, likely about the lifetime of humorous memories he held in his soul. Bryan met his wife of 62 years, Marilee (Marcellus) at Emporia State University and they were married on October 24th, 1964. She was the wind beneath his wings, as he was the same for her. In May of 1966, they drove to Juneau, AK to begin their teaching careers and their family. Jason, Rissa and Summer Jo were born and we all enjoyed the many benefits of living in Alaska’s capital city with its notably rich support for the fine arts.
Bryan was a remarkable artist, known for his jewelry, pottery, clay creations featuring noses, painting, drawing, printmaking, sculptures large and small, woven wall hangings, coil baskets, quilt art and many other mediums. Bryan and Marcy were featured in a husband and wife show in 1970, and he taught art at the elementary, middle school, high school and college levels from 1966-2008 in Juneau, AK, Buckley, WA, Columbus, OH and Emporia, KS. Bryan received his Masters in Art Education at the Ohio State University in 1970, and returned there in 1993 to get his PhD in Art Education. In 1973-1974, Bryan was awarded the Juneau School District Teacher of the Year award and the Alaska State Teacher of the Year award. He also received the National Arts Education Association Award for Western Kansas in 2007. Bryan and Marcy lived most of their retirement years in Council Grove, KS, where Bryan was famous among the locals for his grocery lists written on paper plates.
While Bryan was exceptionally skilled at teaching art, it will always be his interpersonal connection with people and riotous sense of humor that will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know him. His signature, booming laugh always lit up a room and was with him until the end. He was a patient and kind husband, parent, mentor and friend, frequently telling jokes (What did the zero say to the eight? Nice belt.) and complimenting complete strangers on what they were wearing. He was a great role model for his kids and grandkids on how to make friends and show unconditional kindness to all. Bryan’s children and grandchildren are already carrying on his legacy of artistic talent in all their own ways. We all have sweet memories of doing art projects, playing games (including the 4 year-long game of gin rummy with Rissa), listening to him whistle and sing “You Are My Sunshine,” fishing in the lake, and the Spam carving contest. He built sled runs, suffered hundreds of bug bites in a memorable boy scout camping trip, drove us faithfully to all of our activities and was ultimately our never-ending cheerleader. He attended every program, recital and show and always made sure art supplies were in abundance in our home. While Bryan and Marcy loved dogs, Bryan could occasionally be heard sternly lecturing the dog who had to be washed with tomato juice yet again after another roll in dead salmon. It was Bryan’s childhood dog, Ike, who came up the most in conversation in the sunset of his life.
His students will remember him greeting them at the classroom door with high fives, bonus ball, his love of diet pepsi, and his relentless advocacy and invitations to develop their creativity. After retirement, Bryan continued to create art, featuring his Kansas-themed quilt art in local galleries and teaching a variety of workshops at events like Art in the Park. His life was one of devotion and selfless service and he will be dearly missed by the many of us who love him deeply.
Bryan is survived by his wife, Marcy (Marilee) Grove, his son, Jason (Lana) and granddaughters, Quincy and Stella; his daughter Rissa (Jonathan) and grandchildren, Deborah, Ian and Cara, and his daughter Summer Jo and grandson, Daniel, in addition to countless numbers of faithful friends, colleagues and former students. Bryan was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Ida Grove, and his brother, Jon Grove. Please share a memory of Bryan for the family to read at legacy.com. To continue the legacy of Bryan’s passion for art education, you can make a donation in his honor by clicking on the National Art Education Foundation button at “http://www.arteducators.org“
Online condolences made at rumsey-yost.com
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