Marjorie Helen "Marji" Bentley, 90, a resident of Denton for 50 years, died on Saturday, May 23, 2015. For the last 9 years she was a resident of Good Samaritan Village, where she played Happy Birthday serenades on the violin to residents. She was born in Louisville, Kentucky to Frank Loyd Tullis and Sara Elizabeth Hazelwood Tullis. She graduated from Hyde Park High School in Chicago, IL, where she was the valedictorian of her class. She attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA, where she was a featured soloist and concert mistress of the college orchestra and received her B.M.E. She also attended the University of Southern California and received her M.M. from Texas Woman's University.
Marji married Richard Raymond Bentley, whom she met at Cornell College following World War II, on June 14, 1947 in Chicago, IL. She was a music teacher for over 73 years. She taught in Arlington Heights, IL; Redfield, SD; Napa, CA; Ardmore, OK and Denton, TX. She had a private studio where she specialized in teaching Violin, Viola and Chamber Music.
Marji was a member of many organizations, including Music Educators National Conference, Texas Music Educators Conference, Texas Music Educators Association, Music Teachers National Association, Texas Music Teachers Association, American String Teachers Association, Texas String Teachers Association, T.W.U. Faculty Wives, Fine Arts Department of the Shakespeare Club, Mu Phi Epsilon, Denton Kiwanis Club and the First United Methodist Church of Denton. She served as a Cub Scout Den Mother and a Girl Scout Leader. Over the years, she was also involved in the Parent Teachers Association in both Napa and Denton, Parents of the Denton Swim Team, Denton High School Band chaperone and many other activities of her children.
A memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2015, in the Sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Denton. The family will receive friends during a light lunch after the service at the church. Memorial gifts may be given to the Richard and Marjorie Bentley Music Education Scholarship, TWU Institutional Development, Box 425618, Denton, TX 76204; Denton Kiwanis Club Children's Clinic Trust Fund, 1001 N. Elm St., Denton, TX 76201; United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) through First United Methodist Church of Denton, 201 S. Locust St, Denton, TX 76201; or an organization of your choice.
Marji is survived by her husband Richard R. Bentley of Denton; son, Rev. Richard R. Bentley Jr. and spouse Ruth Hutchison of Brea CA; daughters, Beth Ann Bentley and spouse Michael Gates of Jersey City NJ; and Martha Jane Bentley and spouse Becky of Minneapolis MN; grandson, Philip Bentley-Gates, and granddaughter, Hope Bentley Hutchison; cousins, William Tipkemper, and Cha'(Teena) Tullis.
She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents Mr. & Mrs. E.L. Tullis and Rev. and Mrs. George Hazelwood; sister, Betty Jane Ticho; and cousins Bishop Edward (Mary Jane) Tullis, William Tullis, Asher (Nancy) Tullis and Ruth (Louis) Wellman.