Former Drury, SBU instructor found dead in Springfield home

A former instructor at Drury and Southwest Baptist universities and his wife were found dead late last week in their Springfield home.

After being contacted by relatives who were unable to reach the couple, the Springfield Police Department responded to the 3200 block of South Greenbrier Avenue on Thursday evening, where they found Gary Tyrrell, 60, and Jan Tyrrell, 61, dead. Police have not released further details on the case, which they say is being investigated as a double homicide, according to a news release.

Gary Tyrrell taught history and political science as an adjunct instructor at Drury beginning in the mid-1990s and last taught for the university in spring 2013. He largely taught classes for Drury's College of Continuing Professional Studies at the school's branch campuses but also taught at the main campus in Springfield, according to a release from Drury.

“We are shocked and saddened to hear about the loss of Gary and his wife. He was a dedicated and well-liked instructor who taught with Drury for many years, and who cared very much for his students,” said Aaron Jones, dean of Drury’s College of Continuing Professional Studies, in the release.

At SBU, Tyrrell was a part-time adjunct instructor of history and geography at the school's Mountain View campus since 1990.

"Gary was a loyal instructor for our institution,” SBU-Mountain View Director Larry Price said in a release. “Students loved him. We loved him. Our prayers go out to his family.”

According to media reports, Jan Tyrrell volunteered at the Southwest Missouri Office on Aging.