Gary Pittman

Gary Pittman, 73, passed away Sunday afternoon, Sept. 5, 2021, at his Fernandina Beach residence.
Despite the health challenges he faced early on in his 40s, Gary lived life to the absolute fullest for 30-plus more years. He was born in Atlanta, Ga., and moved to Fernandina Beach in 1984 from Jacksonville, Fla. He retired from U S. Gypsum after 35 years as a general foreman. Gary’s unique mechanical skills were relied upon for another eight years as a consultant with the company.
He was an avid fisherman in saltwater and freshwater. It was a lifestyle he passed on to his kids and grandkids. When he wasn’t in a boat, he was working on one. His passion for bass fishing is legendary and renowned across the Southeast, contributing to the startup of the Jacksonville Bass Club and USG Bass Club in the 1970s.
Gary was a very outgoing, approachable, hardworking, resourceful, dependable, loving husband, dad, grump-pa, uncle, friend, neighbor and a small-town celebrity in the bass fishing community. His charismatic personality was magnetic since he never met a stranger. He will truly be missed!
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Betty Pittman; son, Bill Pittman (Holly); two daughters, Teresa Dickerson (Darren) and Wendy Gaskill (Stephen Fierro); sister, Pat Thompson (Doug); four grandchildren, Devyn Brown (Sarah), Seth Gaskill, Alicia Waldron (Cody) and Danielle Magalski (David); and many more relatives and friends. He was predeceased by a sister, Pamela Pittman.
Graveside funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 10, at Green Pine Cemetery in Yulee, Fla. The family will receive friends at the graveside 10 a.m. until the time of service Friday.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to Community Hospice & Palliative Care of N.E. Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257, or online at www.communityhospice.com<http://www.communityhospice.com