Nancye Lou (Briesacher) Bethurem

On Tuesday, February 4, 2025, Nancye Lou (Briesacher) Bethurem, an intrepid sojourner, embarked on her final adventure to her heavenly home. She was a Christian, raised in the United Methodist Church, and accepted Jesus Christ as her savior early in her life. She was born on August 7, 1954, to Frederick and Edna Briesacher in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in Waynesville, Missouri. She passed away in Mercy Hospital of St. Louis after a courageous battle against cancer. She was a graduate of the University of Missouri-Rolla (Now Missouri S&T) with a B.A. in History, University of Missouri-Columbia with a B.S. in Education, Central Missouri University with a M.S. in Education, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law (J.D.) and University of Nevada Las Vegas with a Ph.D. in Environmental Science. She spent her career working as an educator, counselor and lawyer. She recently retired as an attorney working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. While working as a counselor at the Waynesville R-VI School District, Nancye married Steven Bethurem and they lived in Waynesville for a short time until moving to Kansas City for Nancye to attend UMKC School of Law, and Steven to attend UMKC School of Business. They moved there with their young son, Eric Bays, and the family grew while in Kansas City to include another, son, Steven Jospeh Bethurem, Jr. Nancye was employed during her second year of law school at UMKC as a teaching assistant and during her final year of law school as a legal intern at the Health & Human Service Administration. Following graduation, she was employed with a law firm in Kansas City, Missouri. The family later moved to Dallas, Texas where Nancye worked as a litigation attorney in private practice and then with the FDIC. While in Dallas, the family was active in church (St. Mark’s United Methodist Church), youth sports for the two boys (baseball, basketball and soccer), scouting and school activities as well as community, charity and volunteer activities. Nancye was particularly active in the Dallas Women Lawyers Association, where she became President and the Texas Women Lawyers, which she helped to establish and became the first President and Executive Director. Nancye was a passionate supporter of women’s rights and worked on legislative proposals to provide for equality for women and girls. When the family moved to Hawaii, Nancye continued to advocate for women’s rights and became President of Hawaii Women Lawyers and served on the Board of Directors for the Hawaii Women’s Legal Foundation. She was also actively involved in various other community and charity events, working to eliminate gender and racial/ethnic discrimination and to make a difference in the lives of those around her. The family spent their free time enjoying the outdoor activities that were abundant in Hawaii, including scuba diving, hiking and swimming. Christmas spent on Waikiki Beach was a highlight for the family. Nancye was always a strong advocate for environmental causes, including providing legal advice on environmental issues. This was enhanced by her love of nature, and particularly of the ocean and beaches. She fulfilled a lifetime dream of diving the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia in 2024. Nancye rejoiced in her career as an attorney, and worked in numerous locations across the country, including Texas, Hawaii (working for the U.S. Army and in private practice), Las Vegas, NV (working for the U.S. Air Force Nellis Air Force Base, Air Warfare Center), NW Arkansas (an Assistant General Counsel at Walmart), South Carolina (Senior Counsel at a contractor to the Department of Energy) and her last position in Dallas, Texas, as an attorney for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Southwestern Division and working remotely from Missouri for the North Atlantic Division). Throughout her career, she was also an author and prepared op-eds for newspapers. She was an instructor, panelist and moderator at professional seminars and conferences on topics as diverse as federal procedure, banking law, labor and employment and environmental law topics. She taught as an adjunct professor at UNLV on environmental law and environmental impact analysis, two of her favorite subjects. She participated on the American Bar Association, Section of Environmental and Natural Resources Section planning committee for several years, preparing high quality education to legal professionals across the country. She was a member of the Missouri Bar, the Hawaii Bar, the Texas Bar, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the National Association of Women Lawyers, and the American Bar Association. She earned the MAAT Justice Award from the State Bar of Texas for the attorney who most contributed to the furtherance of justice in society. She was also a member of the Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Club. Although she had a long legal career, and participated in litigation matters throughout her career, her favorite case was one of her earliest, representing the NCAA in a win at the Supreme Court in NCAA v. Tarkanian, 488 U.S. 179 (1988). One of her most proud accomplishments was participating in a major clean-up of Cold War legacy nuclear waste by closing two 1.3-million-gallon underground storage tanks that previously held radioactive liquid waste from nuclear weapons production, significantly reducing environmental risk to people and to the environment. She loved her family fiercely. She was a devoted wife, mother, aunt and sister. Nobody was more important to her than her husband and sons. She was also thrilled to welcome daughters-in-law and then grandchildren into her family, and she loved them all dearly. She also developed many lifetime friends in various places that she lived and worked, from growing up in Waynesville, teaching at the Laquey and Waynesville VI School District to working at various law firms and federal agencies throughout her career. She loved her co-workers, friends and family. When her son, Eric, died in 2019, she relied upon her faith, family, friends and fun to get her through that time of intense grief and suffering. It was essential to her that she was surrounded by such a strong circle when she needed it most. Nancye loved to travel. She was always looking forward to her next trip or happily reminiscing about her most recent or favorite adventure. Some of her favorite trips were “road trips” from Dallas to Florida or other destinations when the family took yearly vacations. Nancye loved her family, her friends, her co-workers, and she also loved music. She also loved to take photos of the family and the places that they visited. She was kind, intelligent and loved helping others. She was known for her generosity and her legacy of service, compassion and empathy. She will always be remembered for her volunteer spirit. Nancye was a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. Nancye will be deeply missed but fondly remembered by those who knew and loved her. She leaves to cherish her memory her husband: Steven Joseph Bethurem of the home; son: Steven Joseph Bethurem, Jr. (Amy Eads-Bethurem) of Troy, MO; five grandchildren: Brandon Bays, Brooklyn Bays, Steven Jones, Ben Bethurem and Connor Bethurem; two sisters: Linda Johnson of Osage Beach, MO and Carol Gassner (Robert Benavidez) of Lake Ozark, MO; sister-in-law: Beverly Bethurem Richardson of Stoutland, MO; brothers-in-law: Bruce Bethurem (Karen) and Robert Bethurem of Stoutland, MO; along with many other cherished relatives and friends. Her family takes comfort in knowing she has been reunited with those who have gone before, including her beloved son, Eric Andrew Bays, her parents, Frederick and Edna Briesacher, her father-in-law and mother-in-law Waldo and Alice Bethurem, and a host of other relatives and friends. Celebration of Life services were held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 10, 2025, in the Waypoint Church of Waynesville, MO with Pastor Brett Reith officiating. Nancye's neice, Stacey Mosher and Nancye's dear friend, BG (Ret) Maritza Ryan, both recalled their wonderful memories of Nancye and delivered beautiful eulogies of Nancye. Pianist Cheryl Wood led the congregation in singing "It Is Well With my Soul", "Standing on the Promises of God", and "Hymn of Promise". The songs "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and "Happy" by Pharrell Williams were played. Following the service, a celebration of Nancye's life continued in the fellowship hall with a hot chocolate social. Services were under the care and direction of Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville / St. Robert. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Nancye Bethurem to the Waypoint Church and may be left at Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Waynesville / St. Robert or at the church the day of the service.

Nancye Lou (Briesacher) Bethurem

August 7, 1954 - February 4, 2025