Bettye Joyce Braun, daughter of the late Jesse Davis Pierce and Mary Alice Gann Braun, was born one June 6, 1935 in Blytheville, Mississippi County, Arkansas and departed this life on March 2, 2016 at Cypress Point Skilled Nursing Center in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 80.

Mrs. Braun was of the Baptist faith, a homemaker and a resident of Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  She grew up in Blytheville, Arkansas on a farm south of town.  She attended Burdette School.  Her dad was a Baptist Minister and her mother played the piano and was a good cook.  The family had fruit trees, grape vines, herbs, horses, cows, hogs and chickens.  They raised a huge garden and had “Hog Killing Day.”  They had plenty of pork, fruit and vegetables.

On May 25, 1964, she was united in marriage to Richard David Braun in Blytheville, Mississippi County, Arkansas.  Mr. Braun preceded her in death on May 28, 2012.

Bettye’s husband retired from the United States Air Force and she was with him in many travels.  After retirement, they moved to Largo, Florida near his relatives and lived there for several years.  Then they moved to Dexter on March 26, 2002 to be near her sisters, Virginia  Reed and Veleta Stutts.  They enjoyed several good years in Dexter
    
She is survived by one daughter, Jacqueline Suzette (Hawkins) Davis and husband Larry of Beebe, Arkansas; by two sons, David Gene Brown of Cape Girardeau, Missouri and David Andrew Braun and wife Laura of Salisbury, North Carolina; by one sister, Mary Virginia (Pierce) Reed and husband Wafe of Dexter, Missouri; by six grandchildren, George Vincent Hawkins, Emily Georganna (Hawkins) Hulsey, Donavan Davis, Isabella Victoria Brown, Megan Alyssa Braun and Mallory Alana Braun; by four great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Emma Fayth Hulsey, Gavin Alexander Benjamin Hulsey, Kara Leigh Hawkins and Nathan Hawkins; and many nieces and nephews.

Bettye and Richard had a great-nephew, Kurt Randall Pierce, from Dowagriac, Michigan, who lived with them for several years.  He graduated from Dexter Senior High School and then attended Three Rivers College in Dexter for a period of time.  Kurt later left Dexter and is presently working in the state of Virginia.    

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by six brothers, James Elvin Hood, Jesse Burette Pierce, Dewey Lee Pierce, James Russell Pierce, Wilburn Ray Pierce and Franklin Delano Pierce and by three sisters, Geneva Geraldine (Pierce) Hamilton, Veleta Frances (Pierce) Stutts and Reba Lois (Pierce) Eslinger.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Friday, March 4, 2016 from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M.  

A graveside service will follow on Friday, March 4, 2016 at Chalk Bluff Cemetery in Dexter with Rev. Greg McGhee officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Heartland Quilt Guild, c/o Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home, 125 West Stoddard Street, Dexter, Missouri  63841.