Billie Lee Misevcis

Billie Lee (Schunk) Misevcis July 6, 1963 to November 5, 2023. 

Billie loved cats and flowers and pink. 

She worked as a legal secretary for most of her life and had only recently discovered her love and talent for title work. She moved from Catskill, New York in August of 2020 with 3 cats and little else. She lived with her oldest sister until February, 2023, when she purchased her first home. 

Billie was active in Bannock Feral Friends and All About the Animals Coalition, but more than that, she was a formidable advocate for all things living, especially cats. 

Man, was she happy! She had a job she loved and her first home ever, and the house she purchased came with a cat, named Henrietta. The house had been painted pink inside, and the lush yard was overfull of roses and irises, her favorite flowers. It seemed perfect. Every day was like Christmas, with a different flower bursting into bloom, clouds and drifts of rudbeckia, Baskets of Gold, and irises pushing up through the pine needles, and of course, the delicate whorls of velvety roses in every color you can imagine. She was always surprised and had to share pictures of all the beauty around her. Billie felt such a part of that house, and when, in March, a house full of abandoned, abused cats was found, she opened her garage to temporarily house them. That was the plan, but the cats flourished and relied on her, and she loved their gentle trust. She built a catio and outfitted her garage with an electric fireplace. Her plan was to set up a living room of sorts where she could sit among the cats and help them learn to love. She could hardly wait for her first Thanksgiving, when she hoped to cook a big feast and share it with all her kitties. 

Billie passed away suddenly on Sunday, November 5, around 2 in the afternoon. She was the happiest person on earth for these last few months, and her dream for a cat sanctuary will live on. 

She is survived by her sisters, Debbie Brooks, Teri Steed (Doug), Theresa Pape (Ken), nieces Michelle Steed (Scott Milner), Arielle Brooks, Mathilde Brooks, Feleina Chandler, Persephone Brooks-Chandler; nephews Alan Steed, Jared Brooks (Inna), Jordan Brooks (Jade Chandler), and numerous cousins, friends, and animals who will always love her.

She is preceded in death by her parents, William Frederick Schunk, Jr, and Patricia Lee (Shell) Schunk, and her husband, Robert Misevcis. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Billie’s Dream Cat Sanctuary, through All About the Animals Coalition or Bannock Feral Friends. 

A Celebration of Life will take place at her house, 1241 Jensen Street, on November 18, 2023, beginning at 5:00 pm.

Memories and condolences may be shared by visiting the Tribute Wall tab above.