Betty Beyer Gregoire

Betty Gregoire, age 93, of Austin, Texas died on Thursday, October 24th, 2019 with her family by her side. Betty was preceded in death by her husband Jerome Charles Gregoire and leaves behind her two sons, Jerome (Stephanie) Gregoire of Austin TX, Timothy (Colleen) Gregoire of Lawrence KS, 4 grandchildren, Jerome Gregoire of Austin, TX, Charles (Jamie) Gregoire of Austin, TX, Megan (Jeffrey) Matthyssen of Austin TX, Maxwell (Shasta) Gregoire of Albuquerque, NM and 5 great-grandchildren, Kathryn, Juliet and Natalie Gregoire and Benjamin and Willa Matthyssen, whom she adored.

Throughout her long life, Betty was a woman dedicated to public service which began soon after her graduation from high school during World War II, when she was employed by the Curtis-Wright Corporation, to copy draft plans for military aircraft used during the war, onto a large board above the production plant floor. Following her graduation from the State University of New York, she taught Art in Long Island elementary schools and in Rochester New York high schools. While in New York she was also instrumental in getting a new hospital built in Williamsville, New York.

Betty was a dedicated wife and mother. While her sons were growing up she dedicated herself to providing them with a comfortable home and to keeping her family together. This was not always an easy task as her husband’s career required them to move around the country often. They moved over 20 times during the times that her sons were growing up.

When they were finally able to settle down in Kansas City, MO, Betty went back to work and began to establish herself as a force within her community, which began with her volunteer work at St. Therese Parish in Parkville, MO where she served on the Finance Council and on the Weatherby Lake Improvement Board. She was also instrumental in getting a Meal on Wheels program started in the Parkville area. At this time she also began working as the manager of a small art gallery. As customers entered the gallery, Betty engaged them in conversations, many of which were political in nature. These conversations ultimately led to her recruitment as a political candidate for the office of State

Representative. Although she lost her first election, her name and face became well-known throughout the county as a woman who spoke the truth and who dedicated herself to fighting corruption. Following her election loss she went to work as the Administrative Assistant to the Platte County Prosecutor and then later as the Administrative Assistant to the Platte County Commissioners. Then, in 1985 she was appointed by Governor John Ashcroft to fill the unexpired term of the retiring Platte County Assessor. She went on to serve 3 terms as the Platte County Assessor before her retirement in 1997. During this time she also served on the Legislative Committee, The Missouri Assessor’s Association, The Mid-America Regional Council, The Missouri Job & Employment Council and District 3 Director of Missouri Association of Counties.

In 1997, Betty and her husband moved to Austin, TX. Her dedication to public service did not stop with her retirement. She immediately became involved once again in her parish serving on the finance council at St. Martin De Porres Parish in Dripping Springs, and on the boards for the Dripping Springs branch of the YMCA, and The Friends Foundation. She became a driving force in getting funding for a public library to be built in the Dripping Spring area, then volunteered every week at the library itself.

During her husband’s illness leading to his death in 2002, Betty became aware of the need for respite programs for those caring for family members suffering from dementia. With a group of other like-minded women, Betty became involved in establishing The Bright Horizons program at Emmaus Catholic Parish, where she continued to volunteer until she was 90 years old.

As though that isn’t enough, Betty was always there for her family, providing love, support, encouragement, counseling, apple pies, birthday cakes, and Gramma cookies for her children, grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, and for Mr. Butters her constant companion and lap dog the last several years of her life. She will be missed by all.