Jeanette “Gay” Bumby
February 5, 1942 – December 16, 2024

Jeanette “Gay” Bumby, 82, of Fernandina Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2024 in Yarmouth, Maine. Born on February 5, 1942, in Orange, New Jersey, she was the beloved daughter of William Holly Reynolds and Jeanette Palmer Reynolds. She was preceded in death by her two older sisters, Nancy Smith and Joan Koppes.

Gay was married to the love of her life, Daniel Bumby, for 62 years. They met at a local Dairy Queen and it was love at first sight.

Gay graduated from Watchung Hills Regional High School in New Jersey before earning her nursing degree. She pursued a fulfilling career in nursing and served as the school nurse at M.E. McKeown School in Newton, New Jersey. Later, after relocating to Houston, Texas, she embraced a new challenge, becoming a successful Realtor and continued her real estate career in Steamboat Springs, Colorado where she and Dan lived for 28 years.

Gay was a woman of many talents and passions. She loved quilting, painting, doing puzzles, tennis, sailing, swimming, fishing, skiing and snowboarding and she was an avid reader. She loved the ocean and traveling the world. She found great joy in entertaining friends and family and was a vibrant member of her community. While living in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, she was actively involved in Rotary and the Steamboat Springs Arts Council, where she was honored as Volunteer of the Year for her dedication and service. While in Woodland Park, CO, she was involved in the Ute Pass Social Club. In recent years, Gay and Dan volunteered in Kauai, Hawaii for the Sanctuary Ocean Count with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and participated in the turtle count in Fernandina Beach, Florida.

Gay’s legacy lives on through her loving family: her husband, Daniel Bumby of Fernandina Beach, FL; her three children, Jill Limberg (Barry) of Steamboat Springs, Colorado; Kerry Buthy (Kraig) of Yarmouth, Maine; and Daniel Bumby (Lynda) of Boulder City, Nevada. She was a proud grandmother to Kelly Limberg (Tucker Stratton) of Bozeman, Montana; Mitch Bumby of Newnan, Georgia; Megan Watling (Kyle) of Milliken, Colorado; Tucker Limberg of Steamboat Springs, Colorado; Hailey Buthy (Nico Ciraulo) of North Pole, Alaska; Jack Buthy of Yarmouth, Maine. She was also recently blessed with a great-grandchild, Dean Watling of Milliken, Colorado.

Gay’s zest for life, adventurous spirit, generosity, creativity, warmth and huge smile will leave an indelible mark on the hears of her family, friends and community.

A celebration of Gay’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the National Marine Santuaries https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/involved/donations.html