10/11/2023
Barley here, Bucks life partner.
Best sit down, or quit driving; I have some deeply sad news to share with you.
James “Bucks" Burnett died on Monday October 2, 2023.
For 22 years of our nearing four decades as a couple, he/we successfully managed his mental illness of Bipolar 1 Disorder. Before and during this time he created and co-created wonderful gifts of art, storytelling, music, lyrics and provided folks with fine records to play in an exceptional store that he adored.
In more recent years, the illness of addiction took hold, and when mingled with a mania, all hell broke loose. Addiction, coupled with BP1, is a very dangerous situation.
My beloved partner James took his life last week, just shy of his 65th birthday.
I am absolutely devastated, as are our family and friends. I cannot thank each of you dear ones enough for your support at this time.
Please forgive me if I haven’t called you directly. I have been doing my best to allow time to be present with those of you I could reach. I hope to sit with each of you in time. It makes me sick to think you’d find out the news from a damned post on FB. But here we are.
In sharing the manner and cause of the death of Bucks I hope only to educate, not to shock or upset anyone unduly. Please help yourself, your partner, your kids to learn how to support those with such burdens oft unseen and glossed over in death notices. Share the truth as Bucks tried to do - always up front about his mental illness. Encourage others to have open discussions about addiction as these conditions often lead to tragic ends.
Out of respect for Bucks Burnett independent vision his FB page will have comments turned off, for you to read like a book. (If I can manage the settings - we shall see)
I’ve created a place for you, where we can meet to celebrate his unique and phenomenal contributions to this, his favorite planet, earth. Hope you can find this page - a place lo laugh cry and hold each other close with plenty of irreverent humor.
Please join us in the public Facebook group :
Namedropper: Tribute to Bucks Burnett (official)
No services planned.
Memorial TBA as I need some time to grieve and find my feet.
14 Records temporarily closed as I suss next steps
May your process be gentle
With love and sadness
Barley
