Russ Moreland

Russ Moreland, born Aug. 3, 1970 passed away Nov. 3, 2020. He was married to Kellie Dawn Moreland and a father to his children, McKenzie Lee Moreland and Mason Dwayne Moreland. He was the eldest child of Dewayne and Linda (Page) Moreland, and the big brother to Leslie Moreland Lingenfelser and Jeremy Moreland.
He began his life in Crane. After graduating Crane High School in 1988, he went on to Springfield to attend Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University), where he married his lifelong partner, Kellie.
He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Education in 1993.
He began his career teaching sixth grade in Monett and coaching junior high basketball. Later, at Marionville High School, he coached and taught in the same classroom in which, years later his daughter, McKenzie, taught her first special educational class. Later, he served as principal at Pierce City High School, where, under his leadership, the school received Gold Star and Blue Ribbon awards. He then became Pierce City’s superintendent, receiving the honor of Distinction in Performance year after year. After serving as director of Scott Regional Technology in Monett for two years, he resumed his role as superintendent at Pierce City. In 2018, he was unanimously selected as the superintendent of schools in Monett.
He tended to his own education as well, going on to earn his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration, Secondary Level, from Southwest Missouri State in 2001, his Specialist in Education from William Woods University in 2006, and was working toward his PhD in Educational Leadership at the time of his passing.
 He served on the boards of the Monett Area Community Foundation, the Monett YMCA, the Monett Chamber Foundation, the Monett Chamber of Commerce, the Southwest Center of Educational Excellence, and the Clark Center. He was an active member and past president of the Southwest District of MASA (Missouri Association of School Administrators), an active member of the Monett Kiwanis, the AASA (School Superintendent’s National Association), the Big 8 Conference of Superintendents, and was president of the Spring Valley Conference.
He is survived by his wife; children; parents; siblings, Leslie (Bill) Moreland Lingenfelser of Willard; and Jeremy (Lauren) Moreland of Crane; grandmother, Betty Page of Springfield; sister-in-law, Stacie Calhoun Bilyeu; mother-in-law and father-in-law Connie Calhoun Hopper and Ken Hopper; and a host of other family members and friends.
A public memorial was held at Burl Fowler Stadium Nov. 7, 2020. A private graveside service for the family will be held later. Memorials may be made to the Russ Moreland Memorial Fund at Freedom Bank of Southern Missouri. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett.

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Lawrence County Record

312 S. Hickory St.
Mt. Vernon, MO, 65712
www.lawrencecountyrecord.com

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