Barbara DeKeyser

The world lost a splash of color on December 5, 2024, when Barbara "Weird Barbe the Artist" DeKeyser traded in her paintbrush for a harp, leaving behind a legacy of laughter, love, and a whole lot of color. Born on July 27, 1948, in the humble town of Akron, CO, Barbe spent her life proving that art imitates life, but only if life is a surrealist painting with a dash of realism.
Barbe was a true Renaissance woman. Known for her keen eye and steady hand in fine art, she mastered realism and the Old Master's technique under the tutelage of the legendary Herr Alfred Herzfeld at the Wiesbaden Institute of Fine Art. Her artistic journey took her from creating evocative canvases to designing commercial art for fashion retailers, where she added flair and wit to every project. And just when you thought you couldn't peg her down, she'd slip into her trench coat and fedora as a private investigator, cracking cases with the same precision she applied to her brushstrokes.
Her interests were as eclectic as her career. She was a melody in motion a dancing queen with a razor-sharp sense of humor and a penchant for dirty jokes that could leave even the most seasoned comedian speechless. Her friends knew her as "the whole vacation," and we're pretty sure that's the greatest compliment anyone could ask for. Barbe painted life's canvas with humor and heart.
As she joins her parents, Vera and Willfred Crosier, and her brother Delton Crosier in the great beyond, she is likely organizing a celestial art show or a family reunion – both of which would undoubtedly be the most epic parties the afterlife has ever seen.
She leaves behind a tribe of loved ones, including her daughter, Tatia Wing; granddaughter Aryana Wing; grandsons Collin Wing, Brendan Plagens, and Darren Plagens; and her brother Gale (Sandra) Crosier. Their lives, along with those of numerous nieces and nephews, are forever brightened by the vibrant colors of her spirit.
Instead of flowers, Barbe wants you to grab a brush, pour a glass of wine, and share a laugh (or three). Because, as she always said, life should be painted with joy and a dash of mischief. And if you ask us, that's a legacy worth celebrating.
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