Dawn Beye

Dawn Weldon Beye of Independence, Missouri died at the Kansas City Hospice House on Thursday, November 29, 2012. She was 58.
Dawn was born on December 5th, 1953 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the first child of Clair and Jesse Weldon. She grew up in Weslaco, Texas with her younger sister Kim Weldon (Bozich) and lifelong friend Susan Rankin. Dawn began her college studies at Graceland College at the age of 17. There she met and began a lifelong romance with her husband, Kirk Beye. Dawn and Kirk were married on May 21, 1972 at Fairview Heights Church in Independence. After living in Colorado and Iowa, Dawn and Kirk moved to Independence, Missouri. Dawn and Kirk’s son Travis was born in Leon, Iowa in 1977 and son Ryan was born in Independence in 1981.
Dawn graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Colorado with a Bachelors of Social Work. She earned her Masters of Social Work from the University of Kansas in 1992 and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Dawn was a medical social worker for nine years at the Independence Regional Health Center. She became the Executive Director of the Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA) in 1989 and served in that position for 17 years. Dawn’s leadership helped grow CAPA from a small organization with two part-time staff to a thriving agency of around 20 staff serving thousands of children and families each year. She was also a classroom instructor in the Masters of Social Work program at the University of Kansas, and served on organizational boards focused on health, community family and children’s concerns.
Dawn developed a love and passion for energy-based healing and studied under several leaders and masters in various energy healing fields. Dawn was a Reiki Master and Certified Hypnotherapist, and she held certifications in several other energy healing modalities. Dawn retired from CAPA to pursue full-time private social work practice, and she incorporated spiritual and energy healing philosophies into her work. In addition, Dawn was an ordained minister and elder in the Community of Christ, and has presented many seminars and classes on spiritual and energy healing in the U.S. and Canada.
Dawn was honored as Missouri Social Worker of the Year by the MO/KAN Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, named the Human Service Person of the Year by the Jackson County Interagency Council and Hospital Hill Social Worker of the Year, and has had her work acknowledged by the Missouri State Legislature.
Dawn was a talented writer, poet, photographer and artist, an avid traveler and reader, and an amazing cook. Dawn’s love of life and other people was apparent and infectious, and her teachings and spiritual and energy healing practices inspired and encouraged a multitude of others in their personal spiritual journeys.
A loving wife, mother and grandmother, Dawn is survived by her husband of over 40 years, Kirk; her sons, Travis and his wife, Colleen, and Ryan; and granddaughter, Aria.
Dawn was preceded in death by her parents, Clair and Jesse Weldon; and her sister, Kim Weldon Bozich.
Dawn’s Memorial Celebration will take place on Saturday, December 8 at 2:00 PM at the Community Christian Church in Kansas City (4601 Main Street). Dawn’s family will host an informal Visitation from 5:30-8:00 PM on Friday, December 7 at Walnut Gardens Church in Independence (19201 East R. D. Mize Road).
In lieu of flowers, Dawn has requested that donations be made in her memory to the Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA) www.childabuseprevention.org) and Outreach International (www.outreach-international.org).