My beautiful, loving, caring, talented wife Barbara Ann Bourgeau was born to David and Phyllis Bourgeau on September 4, 1947.

Barbara was one of nine children in a very loving family. I was lucky enough to become part or that family by marrying Barbara on January 26, 1968, and then going on to raise three fantastic children, Stephanie, Sam, and Sarah.

In her 30’s, Barbara was diagnosed with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and after some time she looked to painting for some solace. She took up watercolors and soon became a well-known entrepreneur, B.B. Richards, creating country watercolors and selling her work around the globe. Barbara was able to pour her genuine love of family and friendship into her work and by doing so, she inspired thousands of fans who were also struggling in their own lives. As the artist, B.B. Richards, she touched the hearts of so many through her paintings, cross stitched designs, figurines, collector plates by Pfaltzgraff and even designing a t-shirt for Habitat for

September 4, 1947 -March 6, 2025 Humanity. Barbara was always available to her fans: through her many promotional signings and those lucky enough to see her running one of her four retail stores in Michigan.

When our children were grown, we decided to move “Up North” where Barbara encouraged me, a retired gym teacher, to express my love of Up North Michigan through my own paintings. Eventually we found our perfect spot in Northport and together opened Studio 100, a gallery she helped me fill with my art, antiques and even some of her own work. In the summers you could find Barbara, lovingly referred to as “Mimi” at the beach with our eight grandchildren, playing in the sand, wading through the water, looking for buckets of rocks to hand paint and making memories to last a lifetime. And they will. Barbara, I am the luckiest guy in the entire world to have been able to spend 57 years of my life with you.

See you on the other side.

Your Kirk Signing off with Barbara’s iconic signature “May love be with you always.”