Obituary of Courtney L. Bourlier

With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Courtney L. Bourlier, age 73, of Wyandotte, on May 19, 2026.

Courtney was first and foremost the heart of her family. A devoted wife of over 50 years to the late Gary “Fuzzy” Bourlier, loving mother to Emily (Kevin Kinney) and Bill Bourlier, cherished grandmother to Courtney and Madison Kinney, and beloved mother to her late son, Michael Bourlier. Courtney carried immeasurable love for Michael and held him close in her heart every single day. A mother’s love does not end, and her love for him remained steadfast through the years.

To know Courtney was to know warmth, steadiness, humor, and unconditional love. She had the kind of presence that made people feel safe, cared for, and at home. No matter what life placed in front of her, she found a way to make things feel special, comfortable, and full of love for the people around her.

Courtney worked hard throughout her life. She retired from DHL as a courier, later worked at Rite Aid on Biddle, and faithfully helped run the family business, G&B Lawn Mowing, for over forty years. She was dependable, hardworking, and the quiet strength behind so much of what made her family’s life possible.

Born and raised in Lincoln Park, Courtney graduated from Lincoln Park High School and attended Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, where she once shared her beautiful singing voice in choir. She carried that same softness and spirit throughout her life, never losing the kind, free-spirited heart that made her unmistakably herself.

She loved deeply and simply. She loved books, often reading several at once, always having one nearby wherever she sat. She loved gardening and plants, filling every room with something green and passing her knowledge and green thumb to her children. She loved flowers, nature, sunshine, camping trips, fishing, canoeing, motorcycles, and adventures with her family. If Gary had an idea for an adventure, Courtney would already be packed and ready to go.

Together, Courtney and Gary traveled across the United States and Canada by motorcycle and sidecar, creating memories that would become family stories for decades. In later years, they spent winters in Florida, towing their RV and soaking in warmer weather, where Courtney happily declared it was perfect weather for motorcycle rides.

Courtney also had a deep love for animals, especially the pets who became part of the family she cherished so dearly. Among them, Dozer held an especially special place in her heart. Whether wearing his sunglasses or happily riding along in the motorcycle sidecar, Dozer became part of countless adventures and treasured memories, bringing joy, laughter, and companionship wherever he went.

She was endlessly capable, the kind of woman who could drive stick shift, ride in a motorcycle sidecar, help fix whatever needed fixing, and somehow still make home feel warm and welcoming. She was involved in Cub Scout Troop 1369 with her sons and supported her family in every season of life with fierce love and quiet devotion.

There was something especially meaningful about the bond Courtney shared with her son, Bill. One of the things that brought her genuine excitement and joy was learning glass blowing with him, a creative adventure that quickly became deeply special to her heart. She loved the experience of creating something beautiful, but even more, she cherished the time spent together. She was excited by the process, proud of what they made, and embraced it with the same open heart and curiosity she brought to life. Those moments with Bill became treasured memories, full of love, creativity, and connection.

But perhaps Courtney will be remembered most for the ordinary moments that became extraordinary because she was there.

For homemade cornbread, pancakes, and her famous muffins, baked with love and shared generously. For afternoons spent watching soaps and taking naps. For sitting outside drying her hair in the sunshine with a book in hand. For grocery shopping trips, flowers blooming in the yard, and teaching her family to care for plants and find joy in small things.

Her granddaughters adored her, and some of their favorite memories tell the story best: building Lego flowers together, painting nails, braiding Grandma’s long hair, baking in the kitchen, solving puzzles, playing Uno, and sharing picnics on the living room floor with White Castle or Taco Bell spread across a blanket so no one made a mess.

And then there were the tiny things only family remembers, the sacred little rituals that somehow become unforgettable: Grandma honking the horn twice before backing out of the parking lot and cheerfully announcing, “Backing up!”

Courtney loved fiercely: her husband, her children, her grandchildren, her animals, her flowers, her books, her hockey games, and the quiet beauty of everyday life. She especially loved cheering on the Red Wings and never lost her old hippie soul.

Most of all, Courtney taught her family what love looks like. Real love. The kind shown through showing up, helping without hesitation, making magic from whatever you have, and creating a home where people feel cared for.

Her family will miss her beautiful blue eyes, her laughter, her warmth, and the comfort of simply being loved by her. But the memories she created, the traditions she built, and the love she poured into her family will continue on forever.

A truly strong woman, deeply loved and deeply missed.