June 13, 1950 – July 7, 2022
Our loving mother, sister, and friend Lynn DeBusk, 72, of Gainesville, Florida, entered into eternal rest on July 7, 2022 after a courageous battle with metastatic melanoma. She was under the gentle care of Haven Hospice at E. T. York Care Center in Gainesville. She had a smile like sunshine and a laugh that brimmed with joy.
Born on June 13,1950 in Boston, Massachusetts, Lynn was the eldest child of the late Franklin Lafayette DeBusk, MD and Anne (Tisdale) DeBusk. A longtime resident of north central Florida, Lynn spent her early childhood in Pensacola and, from her mid-teens, in Gainesville where she graduated from Gainesville High school in 1968. She pursued a degree in nursing, graduating from Santa Fe Community College in 1970, passing her boards in 1972. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Health Care Administration in 2010 from Ashford University.
Lynn began her career of service to others at the University of Florida’s Shands Hospital performing bedside care in the neonatal intensive care unit. Her passion for research and expanding her knowledge perfectly suited a personality that enjoyed digging through articles like a detective solving a case. She generously passed along her knowledge and wisdom to friends and family. In 1995, she left bedside nursing and began working as a claims medical specialist at Nationwide Insurance in Gainesville and later became a senior medical case manager at FCCI in Sarasota, Florida. She retired in March 2020.
Lynn was a wild and free caring soul known for her infectious smile, vibrant personality, and her stylish attire, which always suited the occasion. She was an avid animal lover and Beatles fan from their earliest days. With a deep love of traveling, she visited the Galapagos Islands, Europe, Peru, and the Amazon River as well as many regions of the United States. Closer to home, she enjoyed sharing brunch with close friends, trips to the park with her dogs, and spending time with her two girls. Lynn was a friend to the community and firm believer in supporting local organizations such as Paws on Parole and Operation Catnip.
Lynn is survived by her daughters Monique Desiree (DeBusk) Kunz and Kathryne Anne (DeBusk) Otte of Gainesville, her brothers, William “Bill” DeBusk of Gainesville and Thomas “Tom” DeBusk of Satellite Beach, her two dogs and four cats, and a number of lifelong friends.
Her gravesite life celebration will be held at Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery, 7204 SE County Road 234, Gainesville, FL 32641, on July 19, 2022 at 8 a.m., followed by a reception hosted by her daughters at Lynn’s home, 3905 SW 18th Street, Gainesville. Lynn chose to have her life celebration outdoors in a meadow, and it is recommended guests wear closed-toe shoes and slacks. Her daughters request colorful attire to honor their mother’s bright personality. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lynn’s name to Operation Catnip of Gainesville (ocgainesville.org), Paws on Parole (pawsonparole.com), or Haven Hospice of Gainesville (4200 NW 90th Boulevard, Gainesville, FL, 32606, beyourhaven.org/donate).
