Bud Bybee

Bud Bybee passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, November 16, after living life to its fullest for 79 years -- 48 of those years with the love of his life, Yolie Bybee.

Bud was born and raised in Miami, Florida and moved to Georgia in 1972. Together, he and Yolie moved to Greene County in 1989, a place they both loved. That’s the year that Bud started wearing a baseball hat. He had never worn a baseball hat before. But unlike the caps most folks wore around here, Bud’s was not a Georgia Bulldogs hat; it was a Florida Gators hat. And while he had attended the University of Florida for a time, Bud did not follow the Gators. He could not tell you the names of any players or what team they played or when they won. He would say that he wore his Gator hat “so people would talk to me.” And they did. All the time. Everywhere he went wearing his hat.

Buddy would say, “I love the Bulldogs, but if I had a Bulldogs hat on, no one would talk to me. With my Gator hat on, everybody starts a conversation with me.”

Yes, Bud was a talker, as all his friends and family know. He was also a great listener. If you were out with Bud anywhere, you often had to drag him away from people he had just met and they’d still be talking -- shouting to each other! -- as they climbed into their respective boats or cars and drove away. And that’s why Bud wore a Gators hat in Greene County.
Bud is survived by his daughter Sondra Blaser (Gregg McCraw); his wife Yolie; many friends and family, and a new puppy named Will, because Buddy said he would not leave until Yolie had a new dog. Per Bud’s wishes, there will not be a service.

Hats off to Bud Bybee.

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