Priscilla Richards

Priscilla Richards, 90, of Traverse City, MI died Jan.8, 2019 at Munson Medical Center.

Priscilla was born March 29, 1928 to Robert and Amber Burns in Harrison, MI. She graduated from Harrison High School in 1946.

Priscilla met Bud at a church social event for young adults. They married on June 11, 1949. They lived in Midland where they had one son and four daughters between 1950 and 1960.

In 1971 the family moved to Traverse City to be closer to the outdoor activities they loved. Bud and Priscilla divorced in 1985, but remained on friendly terms and the whole family would get together often. Priscilla moved to Bend, OR in 2002 to be closer to her daughter, Kim and her family and the mountains. In 2015 she moved back to Traverse City where she lived at Willow Cottage, an assisted living facility specializing in dementia care. Her sister Josie lived next door and they got to see each other often.

Priscilla was a stay at home mom and through loving parenting guided all five kids to be responsible adults. Growing up she kept us entertained with about every craft imaginable, games, cards and plenty of time outdoors. The whole family spent a lot of time skiing in the winter and boating, swimming, fishing and of course the famous fish boils on the beach in the summer.

As a family growing up we loved spending time with our relatives and friends, always plenty of fun activities and laughter. We would vacation in the UP with dear friends every summer and loved walking the Lake Superior beaches. Our mother was definitely not afraid of hard work, imagine tent camping with five kids and one still in diapers!

Even while raising five kids she found time to help those less fortunate, volunteering with a swim program for handicapped adults to name just one. She always looked for the good in others and tried to help those in need.

Priscilla loved nature and was active in environmental causes. She was also an advocate of holistic health and healthy eating and was a working member at Oryana Food Coop for many years. Favorite activities were hiking, swimming, downhill and x-country skiing, dancing, sailing, sewing, crafts, and searching the woods and beaches for rocks, mushrooms and wildflowers.

Mom never sought the limelight for herself and was always happiest when family was around. She was a wonderful, caring, loving mother and will be greatly missed by her children.

Although Mom suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, she retained her long term memory and retained her delightful sense of humor to the end.

Priscilla is survived by her children, Bruce (Suzanne)Richards, of Ennis, MT, Julie (Richard Wollam) Richards, of Traverse City, MI, Kim (Dan) Torrence, of Bend, OR, Kay (Mark Ailes) Richards, of Lombard, IL, Barb (John) Hart, of Mattawan, MI; brother Ben (Carol) Burns died 2/24/2019, of Hemet, CA; and three grandchildren, Jordan Ailes, Amy Torrence (fiance Spencer Luther), Kelly (Travis) Pruitt.

She was preceded in death by Bud Richards; her parents; and siblings, Josie Vine, Mary Lou Sielschott, Robert Burns and William Burns.

A Celebration of her life will be held 12 noon to 4pm, Sunday , April 28, 2019 at the Grand Traverse Yacht Club, with a Memorial Service at 1pm. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association (www.alz.org/donate). Please visit www.lifestorytc.com to sign the guestbook and share your thoughts and memories with the family. Life Story Funeral Home, Traverse City.