While I played keyboard for an outdoor jazz combo event on the square last winter, Bogie made sure to keep my legs warm. Dozens in Liberty mourn the loss of sociable black cat
Lindsay Hanson Metcalf
The Kansas City Star
Liberty — Some humans don't have it this good. In life, Bogie the cat had dozens of surrogate mommies and daddies along the Liberty square who each kept food, toys and litter boxes awaiting his stop on the daily rounds.
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In death, Liberty's famed black cat had a funeral recently in the atrium of the Clay County courthouse, panels of photos and newspaper articles chronicling his 13 years, and around 60 people mourning his loss. "The last lesson Bogie taught us was to remind us of the brevity of life," said the Rev. Richard Rudd, who knew Bogie from his regular walks. "Bogie is gone, and his place in the world, in our hearts, lives on." A reception followed the half-hour service, hosted by the county treasurer's office. People lingered more than an hour and a half, filled more than 30 pages of a memory book and reflected over collages of photos, cards and mementos. News of Bogie's passing crossed state lines, and his official owner, Lainey Koepke, received cards and calls from strangers. The dearly departed had an imperfect history. The Liberty Animal Shelter once arrested Bogie. He also struggled with bulimia, never refusing a can of tuna but often paying for it later. Mack Williams recalled once saving Bogie's life. A vehicle charged Bogie on the street, threatening to take each of his nine lives. Bogie jumped into the arms of Williams, who protested so loudly that a neighbor called police. "I said, 'Well, you're going to have to run over me and him,' " Williams said. Some, such as Sylvia Bradshaw, shed tears. The city hall receptionist fancied herself Bogie's chauffeur. He would ride shotgun and meow directions, she said. Koepke said he always looked both ways before crossing the street. Six-year-old Olivia Scheible brought drawings of herself as a princess and Bogie as her companion with the words, "I miss Bogie, Love Olivia." Koepke paid $12 to have Bogie cremated. A ceramic figurine of a cat with wings decorated his urn. It still amazed Koepke that the "sweet little cat" she adopted years ago had become the unofficial king of Liberty. "It's not like it's the mayor of the town or somebody's mother or father; it's a cat," she said. "All of the people that he was in the stores and the buildings with allowed him to develop as this little fun creature." | 
