BETTY R. BRESHEARS

Betty R. Breshears, age 94, of Belton, Missouri passed away October 23, 2025, at Research Medical Center surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at Cullen Funeral Home, Inc., 612 W. Foxwood Dr., Raymore, Missouri 64083. Visitation will be from 10-11:00 a.m. with the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Spring Branch Cemetery, in Breshears Valley, Warsaw, Missouri at 2:30 p.m.

Betty was born in Coalinga, California on June 28, 1931, the daughter of Edward Stone and Emma (Morrison) Stone. The family moved from California to Missouri when Betty was very young. After graduating from high school in Bolivar, MO, Betty went on to earn a bachelor's degree in music education from Southwest Missouri State in Springfield.  She taught vocal music and band at Halfway, Osceola, Deepwater, and Lowry City.  She spent the last 21 years of her career at Grandview Junior High focusing on vocal music.  During her time at Grandview, she earned her master's in music education.  Her select choirs participated in music festivals at Worlds of Fun and School of the Ozarks where they consistently received 1 ratings, the highest given, over the years.  Betty was recognized as a specialist in Junior High vocal music, and was an occasional presenter in the music department at Central Missouri State in Warrensburg.  She retired from Grandview after a total of 36 years of full-time teaching.  She loved teaching and interacting with her students, and so continued as a substitute teacher for the next 7 years in the Belton and Raymore-Peculiar School districts.  When she would run across former students after retirement, they always would comment on how much they loved her and that she was their favorite teacher.

On August 16, 1974, Betty married the love of her life, Steve Breshears. They merged their families and built a loving home together for their children and grandchildren.  When the kids were growing up, the yearly family vacation destination was always Daytona Beach, FL.  After the kids were grown, Betty and Steve continued to enjoy traveling, saw most of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, enjoyed 8 cruises together, and attended 74 Grand Ole Opry shows.  After retirement, they loved spending time at their condo in Branson, and their farm in Wheatland.  Beginning in 1989, Betty and Steve served as Committeeman and Committeewoman for their precinct on the Cass County Central Republican Committee and were still serving when she passed.  Betty was a member of the First Baptist Church of Raymore, where she played the piano for the gospel band for many years.
Betty was sweet and kind, with a strong streak of stubbornness, independence and elegance.  She enjoyed being outside, working in her yard, and keeping her house immaculate.   She was full of energy and loved staying busy.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Emma Stone; grandson, Jake Scott; sister, Helen Bates; and brother, Louis Stone.

She is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Steve Breshears; four children, Jim Braithwait, Mark Braithwait (Michelle), Libby Brown (Lynn), and Lesa Kitson (Terry Smith); sister, Peggy Thomas; twelve grandchildren, twenty-four great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Inc., Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278