Spire, Betty J. 1951-2025 Conception Jct., Mo.
CONCEPTION JCT., Mo. – Betty Jean Spire, 74, of Conception Jct., Missouri, and formerly of Clyde, Missouri, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph.
Betty was born on June 7, 1951, to Ruby Graham, in Osceola, Iowa, and was raised by her grandparents, Arno and Helen (Burk) Graham, on a farm near Murray, Iowa. She graduated from Clarke Community High School in Osceola, Iowa, in 1969.
She married William Victor “Bill” Spire Jr. on June 20, 1970, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in Maryville, Missouri. They moved to Conception Jct. in 1971 and later to Clyde, in 1987.
Betty and Bill owned Spire Repair, in Conception Jct., and together they ran the family business until retirement in 2017.
Betty enjoyed gardening, canning and was known for her salsa, pumpkin pies, zucchini bread and her famous Butterfinger dessert. She enjoyed word search games and staying active outdoors. Her time spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was most precious to her. In recent years, she had the pleasure of traveling throughout the U.S.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, in 2021; her grandparents, Arno and Helen Graham; parents-in-law, William Victor Sr. and Theresa (Baumli) Spire; her brothers, Ronnie Graham and Donnie Graham; her sister, Patsy Istas; her brothers-in-law, Lyle Hull, Robert Harmon and Tom Spire; and sisters-in-law, Donna Mae Graham and Vickie Graham.
She is survived by her two children, Marla (Brian) McCrary, Clyde, and Craig Spire, Conception Jct.; her two grandchildren, Valerie (Dominic) Wilmes, Stanberry, Missouri, and Trevor (Jillian Stiens) McCrary, Maryville, Missouri; and two great-grandchildren, Isabella Wilmes and Brooklyn Wilmes, Stanberry.
Additional survivors include her mother, Ruby Halliburton, Sturgeon, Missouri; her brothers, Henry (Barb) Graham, Loveland, Colorado, Dean (Donna) Graham, Osceola, Billy (Rhonda) Graham, Loveland, Colorado, and Larry (Judy) Halliburton, Sturgeon; her sisters, Arnolene Hull, Mt. Ayr, Iowa, Shirley (Dennis) King, Loveland, Carolyn (Don) Eblen, Creston, Iowa; her brothers-in-law and sisters in-law, Dick Istas, Concordia, Kansas, Deb Graham, Chariton, Iowa, Mary Beattie, Terrill, Texas, John Spire, Maryville, MO, Carolyn Harmon, Sidney, IA, Pat Dyer, Tyler, TX, Helen (Marvin) Derks, Maryville, Emma (Ed) Walker, Clearmont, Missouri, George (Debbie) Spire, Maryville, Barb (Stephan) Sheil, Chesapeake, Virginia, Sam Spire, Maryville, Ron (Carla) Spire, Maryville, Vickie (Mike) Kempf, Easton, Missouri; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A parish and family rosary was held at 5 p.m., Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, at St. Columba Catholic Church, Conception Jct., with visitation following from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, at St. Columba Catholic Church, Conception Jct. The burial followed in the St. Columba Cemetery, Conception, Missouri.
Services are under the direction of the Bram Funeral Home, Maryville. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
