Kyra Lynn Billingsley
January 2nd 2017 – January 2nd 2025
Kyra was born on January 2nd 2017 to parents Jesse Billingsley and Breanne Billingsley in Boise, Idaho and died peacefully in her mother’s arms surrounded by love on her 8th birthday.
Kyra Lynn was an extraordinarily beautiful child with a spirit of light and love that touched everyone blessed enough to know her. Though her life on earth was one of many physical struggles, she knew only unconditional love from her family, friends and caregivers. She was able to teach everyone the true meaning of life without ever uttering a word.
Kyra’s parents gave her every opportunity available to them to let her experience as much of the world as was humanly possible. She was able to put her feet in the ocean, swim in the lake, camp in the mountains and witness beautiful sunsets on the Oregon coast. It is with deep gratitude that we acknowledge the many doctors, nurses teachers and caregivers that lovingly and skillfully managed her very unique and rare physical needs.
In 2018, just after her first birthday Kyra was diagnosed with a rare genetic form of Mitochondrial Disease due to the iars2 gene which caused her mitochondrial dysfunction. Her prognosis was grim and her parents were told she would only live to be 2 or 3 years old. Thanks to the help of her medical team at Seattle Children’s Hospital and St. Luke’s Children’s hospital we got 8 beautiful years with Kyra. She was able to experience public school thanks to wonderful programs, teachers and therapists who help children with disabilities in the Boise School District. She made many friends on the playground at school. She loved hanging out with her cousins, participating in music class and being around kids.
Once Kyra’s little brother Beck was born in 2022, Kyra acquired two full time nurses Ashlen and Maddie, who cared for her every single day with so much love & compassion and became part of her family.
Kyra will live on in the hearts of her parents, Breanne and Jesse Billingsley, her paternal grandparents, Linda and Jim MacVicar, and Tom Beauclair. Maternal grandparents, Jim and Nancy Griffith and Richard and Cherie Irwin. Kyra is survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends that are all better for knowing and loving her.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday February 15th, 2025 at Telaya Winery, 240 E 32nd St. Boise, Idaho from 1:00 pm to 5:00pm.
Donation can be made in Kyra’s name to: Rays for Rare: https://www.raysforrare.org/ – an Idaho non profit that brings uplifting support to medically fragile children and their families. Link to video of how Rays For Ray has helped our family: https://vimeo.com/636555314 : United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation: https://umdf.org/
Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.