Billie Lou Mircheff

Billie L. Mircheff, 83, passed away peacefully at her home with her children by her side and went to be with the Lord and her husband who preceded her in death in August 2013.
Billie was born in Brown County, Texas and graduated from Brownwood High School, Brownwood Texas in 1947 where she enjoyed participating in the Drama Club. She worked various jobs to be able to earn money for college tuition and room and board while attending Howard Payne, a Baptist college in Brownwood Texas. Billie’s jobs included working as a Soda Jerk at the corner drug store, at Smith’s Photography Studio part time assisting the photographer while taking pictures, developing film, making prints, and doing touch up, as a secretary in the college office, waited on tables in the college dining hall. During the college summers she taught Bible Schools in the rural areas for the Southern Baptist Convention. While at Howard Payne she was the freshman editor for the newspaper as well as a reporter, member of the Drama Club, Acapello Choir, and carried the flag for the marching band. She earned her teaching degree in 1951. After graduation she went to work as a secretary in the Production Control Office at the Overhaul and Repair (O&R) Department in Corpus Christi, Texas. While there she interviewed for a job as a stewardess with American Airlines in Dallas, Texas but turned it down due to the low wages and didn’t feel that she would enjoy trying to calm unruly passengers as she witnessed on her flight back to Corpus Christi. She then worked as a secretary at the Federated Department Store but then returned to O&R as a stenographer in the Flight Test Division where she met her husband to be in September 1954. She then took a position as a secretary for the Production Manager and was married in December 1954 to Naval Officer, Bob Mircheff SR. During her eighth month of pregnancy, she resigned from her position to be a stay at home mom with her children - daughter Debbie; son, Bob JR and daughter, Sharon.
After her children were old enough, Billie worked as a part time teacher between 1968-1983 - Kindergarten (K) – 6th grade and Special Education in West Palm Beach, Florida, K-6th grade in Arlington, TX; 7th-12th grade in Central Kitsap School District Washington. While living in Alexandria, VA between 1983-1994, she worked as the Carriage Display area in the History Building of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. She later worked as a docent at the Woodlawn Plantation Historical Home in Alexandria, VA. While there she created an in-house catering business, Virginia Fair, for special events, parties, and weddings.
Billie was very involved in church activities throughout her life. She taught Sunday School at the Baptist Training Union in Texas, taught 7th – 8th grade Sunday School and Vacation Bible School in Virginia, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and participated in Women’s Activities in Florida, taught Vacation Bible School, participated in Women’s Activities and supported organizations building the church later to be known as Central Kitsap Presbyterian Church in Washington, taught Vacation Bible School, organized and coordinated meals , assisted in church office, prepared and served refreshments and cookies after church setting up and decorating hall for 75th Anniversary celebration of Heritage Presbyterian Church in Virginia, and maintained busy bags for children, member of church money counting team, assisted with church bazaars, caller for Prayer chain, volunteer admin assistant answering phones, leaving message, and providing information 1 day a week in Washington.
Billie was involved in other activities most of which were activities supporting her children. While in Florida, she was active in PTA, in charge of school clinic volunteers as well as working in the clinic, initiated a petition to require a vote on not closing the canals in our neighborhood which was successful and the canal was retained. While in Texas she was the assistant softball coach and chaperone on school field trips. While in Washington she was secretary and recording results at Junior Rodeo events and worked with the staff on Little Britches Rodeo events, chaperone school field trips, attended most all of the horse shows, play days, and rodeo events that her children participated in Western Washington from the Canadian border to Mount St Helens. While in Oklahoma she registered voters at polling sites.
As a Naval Officers wife, Billie traveled all throughout the Unites States living in Florida twice, Virginia 3 times, California, Ohio, and Texas 3 times. Her husband was in awe at her ability to continually pack up the children and coordinate the packing of their belongings, move to a new town, get the house in order, and have the children settled in their schools. Many times running the household and caring for the children by herself when her husband was on travel for the Navy.
Billie enjoyed being with her family, traveling, reading, cooking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, craft work, visiting the ocean, camping, living on her farm in Seabeck, collecting shells and rocks, visiting with friends and family and participating in her children and grandchildren’s activities.
Billie was known for her faith in God, Texas charm, kindness, sense of humor, beautiful smile and sparkling eyes, belief that all things are possible because can’t should not be in your vocabulary, a sense of family, and her unconditional love, devotion, and support for her husband, children and grandchildren. All the best qualities which she instilled in her children. Billie will be lovingly missed by her children, Bob Jr, Debbie, and Sharon, and her grandchildren Ryan and Breanne, and her dear friends Linda of Virginia and Wanda (aka Stoney) of Texas.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Central Kitsap Presbyterian Church. Please call Debbie (360-908-2022) or Sharon (360-981-4148) for details.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Billie to Central Kitsap Presbyterian Church Children’s Ministry PO Box 750 Silverdale, WA 98383 and North Point Church Children’s Program 1779 NE Hostmark St, Poulsbo, WA 98370.