Obituaries : William “Bill or Mac” F. McMosley

William "Bill or Mac" F. McMosley, 73, of Williamsburg, IA, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

Graveside services will be held at 3:00 PM, Saturday, June 27, 2020 at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Blairstown. Visitation will be held from 1:00 until 2:45 PM, Saturday at the Phillips Funeral Home in Blairstown. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for a scholarship fund for young musicians in William's name.

Bill was born May 29, 1947 in Denver, CO, the only child to the late Will and Virginia (Kinney) McMosley.

During his high school years at Denver East High, Bill was a proud member of the Denver Junior Police Band. This experience played a pivotal role in his decision to pursue an education in music. Bill earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music from Adams State University in Alamosa, CO. He never forgot how cold it was at the top of the Rocky Mountains! Bill was planning to pursue a career as a professional musician, but fell in love with teaching at a small high school on the western slope of the Rockies.

Bill spent his professional career teaching and directing at many primary and secondary schools. Coronado High School and West Junior High School, Colorado Springs, CO; Gibson Junior High School and Clark High School, Las Vegas, NV; University of Akron, Akron, OH; Saint Mary of the Plains College and Dodge City Community College, Dodge City, KS; University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY; and Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, KS. Bill was well-known for creating and growing band programs.

Two of Bill's students at Clark High School, Las Vegas, NV, went on to be quite famous. Jimmy Kimmel and his band leader Cleto Escobedo Jr. have fond memories of their time with Mr. McMosley. Jimmy tried to find Bill in August of 2003 to surprise Cleto, but couldn't find him. When it came time for Jimmy's birthday celebration in November of 2003, Cleto successfully located Bill and ABC flew him out for Jimmy's on-air birthday party. Bill remembered that the two always dreamed about being on TV. He described Kimmel as "a very respectful, nice kid, but he was mischievous."

The communities he lived in enjoyed the time he spent conducting municipal bands, as well. Bill was honored to serve as band director for the Laramie (WY) Civic Concert Band (1993-1994), Dodge City (KS) Community Band (1988-1991), Dodge City (KS) Symphony Orchestra (1990), and Salina (KS) Municipal Band (2005-2018). He also led many bands throughout the years as a guest conductor. One of Bill's most proud accomplishments was his creation of the Salina (KS) Municipal Law Enforcement Band for school age children in 2010 which he patterned after his experience with the Denver Junior Police Band. Bill successfully secured grants from the Greater Salina Community Foundation and supported fund raisers so that the band members never had to pay.

Bill loved being a teacher and mentor to all of his students. He was a positive influence in the lives of so many. Many of his students were known to call him out of the blue years later just to chat.

Bill was never one to sit still! From high school on, he always had jazz bands that he would pull together. He enjoyed playing private and public events. Two of these bands were The Billy Mac Quartet and The Five Facets of Jazz.

Bill was also known to be quite a talker! One day while gassing up his car in Salina, KS, he struck up a conversation with a gentleman getting gas on the other side of the pump. Pastor Louis Winn was starting up a church in Salina, KS. Bill helped Pastor with the church and became a Deacon at the First Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church.

Bill met Colette (Niebes) in 1992 while teaching at University of Wyoming. They were married on July 19, 2008 by Pastor Winn at First Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in Salina, KS.

Bill is survived by his wife Colette (Niebes) McMosley; his step-children Lisa Rabe, Jason (Jake) Rabe, Andy Rabe, Erika Rabe (Jake) and Shannon Rabe (Andy); his step-grandchildren Stephanie Moore, Colton Rabe, Kaleb Rabe, Clayton Rabe and Samantha (Sam) Rabe; and his step-great-grandchildren Peyton and Maisie. Bill loved his family deeply.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his aunt Bonita Kinney.

Online condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com