William Joseph Gay

William "Bill" Joseph Gay, 66, of Eustis, Florida, passed away on Thursday, July 17, 2025. A beloved member of the community, Bill was born in Tampa, Florida, and had made Eustis his home since 2008, relocating from Fort Lauderdale. Bill was the Owner and Operator of JB Enterprises and took great pride in his active involvement with the Lake Eustis Area Chamber of Commerce. He brought joy to many as Uncle Sam during the George Fest parades and was affectionately known as "Bud Man" at various chamber events. Bill's charisma and dedication to the community were further recognized when he was honored as George Fest King one year. In addition to his civic contributions, Bill was a passionate volunteer for numerous events, participated in local theater productions, and received a Sally Award for his notable performance in the Addams Family. He was also a founding member of the Porch Band, entertaining the community at many chamber events. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Marianne Gay of Eustis; two sons, Brian Gay of Hollywood, FL, and Charles (Mary) Willis of Fort Lauderdale, FL; a brother, Tommy (Cheryl) Gay of Sarasota, FL; a sister, Linda Tuttle of Brandon, FL; and two cherished grandchildren, Aurelia and Charlie. A memorial service will be held at Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, located at 1617 South Bay Street, Eustis, Florida, on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Make a Wish Foundation (Make-A-Wish America) or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation). An online guestbook is available at www.hardenpauli.com. Arrangements by Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis, Florida.

The community will remember Bill for his generosity, spirit, and the positive impact he made on the lives of those around him. He will be deeply missed.