God took one with the gift of vision and the other with the God given ability to draw, and you’ve got the couple that created the Bayou Buddy's.

It all began in the early 1990’s after the marriage of Julie Ann Figlesthaler to Michael John Courville. The union was definitely North meets South. 

Julie grew up in Wisconsin and Michael was born and raised in the bayou country of South Louisiana. This was the heart of Cajun Country, a sportsman paradise of hunting and fishing. Michael did some hunting and fishing but was more a homebody drawing cartoons for his Mom's childcare center in St. Martinville, Louisiana. 

After graduating from college with a degree in Architecture, Mike worked for a small engineering firm in Lafayette, Louisiana. Most of the Economy in Louisiana is based on the oil industry, and when that industry took a slump, Mike had to seek employment elsewhere. That’s how he ended up working in Tampa, Florida. It was a step out in faith to move thirteen hours away from all his family and friends.

Mike and Julie met at Incarnation Catholic Church in Sarasota, Florida and began having children immediately after marriage. Three of their five kids are now married and they have been blessed with nine grandchildren all under the age of five. Their strengths and weaknesses complimented the development of the characters known as the Bayou Buddy’s.

Mike created the main character a raccoon named “Cooney" who he had drawn long before he met Julie. His desire was to make Cooney a fun loving character that loved the Lord. Cooney would bring children and their families to a good time, clean fun, entertainment, and most importantly, bring the love of God’s into their lives. 

He shared his dreams and aspirations with his wife Julie while focusing on his little raccoon character. During their quiet times of conversation Julie was inspired one by one in imagining many of the other Bayou Buddy characters. 

The only problem was that these creative inspirations were trapped in Julie's mind. She would draw very rough sketches for Mike to interpret and develop into new characters. Julie would verbally describe in detail her thoughts and images while Mike would graphically draw them out. 

All of the personalities of the Bayou Buddy’s would be modeled after family members on both sides. They were developed out of love and admiration of the unique qualities of each individual in the family. 

Mike and Julie hope that others may identify with the strengths and weaknesses in the characters as they see how life’s situations are handled through the help of God in their life. Both value the gift of family and the gift of life given to all of us by our Heavenly Father.

They pray that all people, young and the young at heart, will enjoy the Bayou Buddy’s. May the wholesome fun, draw each person into a deeper understanding of God’s beautiful gift of Love. We are all called to live God’s Love, Share God’s Love and be God’s Love!

May God bless each and every one of you.

- Michael and Julie Courville