Bettye Jean Brice

The live stream will begin when Mass begins at 1:00 pm on Friday, January 28th at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/c/StElizabethCatholicChurchandSchool
Bettye Jean (Gilles) Brice
October 12, 1932 January 17, 2022
Bettye Jean (Gilles) Brice, 89, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones, on January 17th, 2022. Our loving and cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister to so many, aunt, cousin, and friend to everyone she met, left us, after a full life of spreading joy and teaching us all the meaning of unconditional love. She now joins her parents, siblings and many loved ones and friends in heaven. We know she wanted so badly to stay here with us, but she knew it was her time to move on.
Bettye was born October 12th, 1932, in Southfield, Highland Park, Michigan to Clarence David Gilles and Dorothy Lavancha (Lackey) Gilles. She was the youngest of 5 children.
Bettye grew up with her family outside of Detroit, Michigan. She shared memories of watching her mother tend chickens and playing with her siblings.
Always up for fun, Bettyes first job was at an Amusement Park, and she loved it! She loved the games, the rides, the lights, and the Coney dogs! In high school, Bettye fondly remembered being a Soprano singer in the production of Pirates of Penzance. She was also a member of the high school band and told stories of twirling a baton as a majorette.
Bettye was independent and strong-willed, which led to her brave move to leave home and join the Air Force in 1954. In the Air Force, Bettye continued to embrace her love of music and played the drums and cymbals in the Bugle Corps. Stationed in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Airman 2nd Class Bettyes fate was sealed when she met a charming young airman who always put a smile on her face, William James Brice, Jr.
Bill cherishes his memories of the fun times they had climbing the mountains in Cheyenne, Wyoming. As a young couple they also enjoyed drive-in movies, and rumor has it, that is where Bill proposed.
Bill and Bettye were married August 17th, 1954, and returned to Bills hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. Together Bill and Bettye raised 3 children, Barry James, Brenda Elaine, and Beatrice Marie.
Bill and Bettye raised their children with a balance of wit, humor, love and discipline. They have been lifelong parishioners of St. Elizabeth, since moving back to Kansas City. Bettye spent countless hours volunteering at the church and that enabled her to meet many lifelong friends. She was a school lunch lady, playground supervisor and was always involved. She helped Sister Rebecca serve the Friendship Club lunch for many years and volunteered at the Redemptorist Parish food pantry.
There was never a dull moment in the Brice household. Bettye supported many of Bills hobbies and adored doing so. Bill and Bettyes door was always open. Friends, family, neighbors, and childrens friends visited often as they always felt welcome. She was a second mom to so many.
Bettye was the most patient woman we knew, except those rare moments when she wasnt, which was few and far between, yet still earning her a nickname of "Mean Bettye Jean," which was a joke because we all knew she was the sweetest person.
Bettye had a love for all games! She taught her grandchildren how to play cards, starting them out with "Go Fish," and progressing them to her favorite, Rummikub, which she and her Michigan family were fond ofand took very seriously. Not only did she teach her grandchildren the game, but she never just let them win, which was her way of teaching good character and integrity for lifes challenges ahead, or maybe it was just her competitiveness.
Always up for a game, Bettye, was her childrens and grandchildrens biggest cheerleader. Her daughters played softball well into their adulthood and Bettye would often go along and fill in as the catcher.
When their kids were young, Bill would try to teach Bettye to drive. The kids would jump around in the backseat, causing distraction and they would give up and go home. Bettye finally got her drivers license at 50 years old. Brenda surprised her with a Ford LTD for her birthday because they figured shed be safe in that big ole boat. Driving a car that large needed some pick-up-and-go and she wasnt afraid to hit the gas pedal, earning her another nickname, "Lead-Foot Bettye."
Bill always said one of his favorite things about Bettye was she was a good cook! She cooked his favorite meals and loved putting out a spread for every holiday! Holidays were special always at home. There were always traditional meals for each holiday and plenty of decorations!
Bettye was loved by so many and enjoyed spending time visiting with friends and family at every opportunity. She had a special relationship with and loved spending time with her mother-in-law, Pauline, as well as very close friends, especially her buddies, Ruth, Marie, and Virginia Mae. Bettye also loved going to the movies and to lunch with friends, and often took her grandchildren along.
Affectionately known as Grandma, Nana, and Granny, her granddaughters adored her, often taking care of them in place of a babysitter until they went off to school and continued to do so after school as well as many summers. She cherished this valuable time spent with them.
Bettye always had a stylish flair! Although she never wore much makeup, she never left the house without putting on lipstick! Her hair became a little more red over the years, until it became her signature hair color for which she was known, earning her yet another nickname "Red-O," a term of endearment given by her son-in-law, Leonard. She religiously went to the beauty shop every week as getting her hair done was very important to her; as well as visiting with many friends that she had made through the years. Eventually she convinced Virginia Mae to join her for the weekly beauty shop outing, which they continued for nearly 20 years. Bettyes hair was always perfectly in place and her clothing was always coordinated and topped off with some bling! Yes, Bettye loved bling! She loved jewelry the real thing and costume if it sparkled or completed an outfit, she loved it!
Bettye loved the color orange she was very inclined to choose warm colors for decor around the house, clothing, flowers - you name it. She loved the changing of the colors in the Fall and all that came along with it from her beloved Royals baseball games (especially the years we had a blue October in 1985 and 2015 and being Salvys #1 fan) to the beginning of football season to watch her favorite team, The Chiefs! We have no doubt in our minds she was using her pull up there in last weeks play-off game!
Bettye was welcomed into heaven by those who went before her: her parents, her son-in-law, Leonard Becchina, her sisters, Gwen Le Cahill and Virginia Lee Delp, and her brothers, Clarence David, Jr., and Harper Everett. She is also reunited with her lifelong friends, Ruth, Marie, and Virginia Mae.
A few she knew would be waiting and a few may have been surprises as she was not told they passed before her.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 66 years, Bill, who never left her side; son, Barry Brice; daughter Brenda Brice Bishop and husband, Scott; and daughter Bea Becchina. She also leaves her granddaughters, Jessica Hughes and husband, Rob; Shelly Balthazor and husband, Philip; Megan Uresti and husband, Christopher; and Jazmin Brice; and great-grandchildren, Rebekah and Samantha Penrose and Travis Hughes.
Her legacy will live on, not only because of the huge imprint she left on all our hearts, but in everything we do as there is a big part of her in all of us who were lucky enough to know her.
"I love you."
"I love you more."
"Impossible!"
A Rosary, Visitation, and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Elizabeth Church, 2 E. 75th St., KC, MO 64114, with the Rosary at 11:00 am, Visitation at 11:30 am and Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 pm. Burial to follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Bettye's Photo Album

Rosary
Friday, January 28, 2022
11:00 AM

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church 2 E 75th StreetKansas City, Missouri 64114

Directions
Visitation
Friday, January 28, 2022
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church 2 E 75th StreetKansas City, Missouri 64114

Directions
Mass of Christian Burial
Friday, January 28, 2022
1:00 PM

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church 2 E 75th StreetKansas City, Missouri 64114

Directions
Burial
Friday, January 28, 2022
2:00 PM

Mount Olivet Cemetery 7601 Blue Ridge BlvdKansas City, Missouri 64138

Directions