Nancy Gay Gustafson, 96, formerly of Cold Brook Road, Homer, passed away on January 23, 2025.
She was born May 15, 1928 in Astoria, Oregon, a daughter of the late Charles M. and Anna Maria “Ami” Lagus Johnson.
She grew up on the Oregon coast where a love for nature, science and the outdoors was fostered by helping on the family tulip bulb farm and digging clams on the mud flats.
She graduated from Antioch College in Ohio and went on to obtain a Masters Degree in Biology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. In 1951 she married John Gustafson. The two had met while attending a summer study program at Woods Hole, MA. After several moves, they settled in Homer in 1955 where John had taken a position with the biology department at SUNY Cortland.
They bought a small farm outside of Homer where Nancy delighted in growing a large garden and excelled at keeping a family of seven fed, clothed and generally out of trouble (no easy task!). She modeled a strong, quiet faith in God. She encouraged and nurtured the interests and talents of her children, and always gave them room to explore.
As her children grew up and moved on, Nancy devoted more of her time to church and community volunteer work. She was involved with the American Baptist Women, the Homer Baptist Missions Commission, Girl Scouts, Helping Hands-Caring Hearts, Homer Food Co-op and the Homer School Board. She could be found every Sunday morning at Homer Baptist Church, setting out coffee in the fellowship hall (as well as the bounty from her garden in season with her “adopt-a-veggie” program). She was a stalwart volunteer at the Homer Intermediate School library for many years.
In her golden years she enjoyed traveling with her husband, although they finally gave up the canvas tent and cook stove that had served for so many years on family trips across the country to visit west coast relatives. She loved her family, loved all people, and most of all loved God.
Surviving are her children, Walter A. Gustafson (Sheila) of Nice, France; Laura E. Gustafson of Lebanon, ME; Daniel D. Gustafson (Kathy) of Homer; Martha E. Christiano (Robert) of Liverpool; and J. Olaf (Ole) Gustafson (Paula) of Cortland; eleven grandchildren, Elsa Gustafson (Wes) Dolgan of San Diego, CA; Jonaya Washburn of New York City; Elizabeth Washburn (Jon) Forbes of Lebanon, ME; Renee Drake (Travis) Lepage of Bradenton, FL; Carol Drake (Shawn) Hannon of Arcade, NY; Caleb Gustafson of Homer; Eliot Gustafson of Homer; J. Aaron Gustafson of Boulder, CO; Erik Gustafson of Seattle, WA; J. Andrew Gustafson of Lafayette, IN; and Julia Gustafson of Boulder, CO. Also surviving are her fifteen great grandchildren, Lilly Gustafson (Skyler) Lyons, Gavin Beyea, Ewan Middleton, Lonan Middleton, Quinn Hannon, Perry Hannon, Kelly Hannon, Victor Lepage, Hannah Lepage, Owen Forbes, Wesley Forbes, Ami Forbes, Emma Forbes, Trent Washburn and Naomi Washburn; two great-great grandchildren, Orrin Lyons and Sylvie Lyons as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Nancy was predeceased by her husband, Dr. John A. Gustafson in 2016; an infant son, Paul Gustafson; her granddaughter, Angela Gustafson and a sister, Charlotte Snider.
