Jimmy Buffett had ‘fun-loving’ energy before his death

Jimmy Buffett’s younger sister Laurie Buffett McGuane has described her brother’s final days and how he continued to emit his usual ‘fun-loving’ energy shortly before his passing at age 76.

Speaking with People, Laurie, 74, recalled how her brother’s positivity endured in the days leading up to his death.

Jimmy died last week following a four year battle with skin cancer, and Laurie said nothing about her brother’s spirit had changed in the face of the disease. 

‘He was always high-spirited, fun-loving, hard working and creative,’ Laurie told the outlet. ‘It is remarkable to be able to say that he remained the same during the last month of his life. His sense of humor was fully intact. God bless him for keeping himself that way.’

Laurie was at her brother’s side when he passed away along with their sister Lucy. They delighted him by recalling their early years growing up in Alabama.

‘We shared memories of our childhood with Jimmy during his last days,’ she said. ‘We would repeat stories, and Jimmy would laugh and nod his head to let us know that he remembered. I have never seen Jimmy depressed ever. Not even at the end. We all like to joke and laugh and that was very much Jimmy.’

Jimmy was heartbroken having to cancel shows on account of his illness, his sister said.

‘He brought joy to so many. I am very emotional now,’ Laurie added. ‘When Jimmy was in the world, I felt safe. Even though I have Tom, it will be a whole new thing for me to be without my brother Jimmy.’

Laurie spent time with her sibling during the last few months with her husband Thomas McGuane. 

Laurie’s husband appears alongside Jimmy in All That Is Sacred, a film about Florida’s Key West during the early 1970s, according to People.

Tom was present for the film’s premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado this past weekend. He was originally supposed to go with Buffett.

While Tom ended up attending on his own, he recalled the letter he sent his brother-in-law shortly before his passing: ‘I told him that, “What you did in your career has a long future, but you may not be there for the applause.”‘ 

Tom said a funeral for Jimmy will likely occur in October.

Jimmy battled a rare form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma.

He was diagnosed with the skin cancer four years ago before the disease progressed to lymphoma – which ultimately his cause of death.

Laurie revealed she was diagnosed with cancer ‘about the same time’ as her brother.

Laurie discovered she had pancreatic cancer during the COVID pandemic and underwent surgery and treatment is now cancer-free.

During their health struggles the pair leaned on each other for support and grew closer as a result.

‘When Jimmy found out [I had cancer] he brought the whole family and the dogs to Montana to be with me,’ she told People magazine.

‘Jimmy and I became closer because of our cancers. We talked before and after our scans. We shared a club that nobody wants to join,’ she said.

Laurie went on to speak about how she was particularly proud of her brother’s achievements during his incredible career.

‘Jimmy always had a dream that he pursued until the end. He did a lot of things in between, but hit Key West when he was pretty unknown, and never gave up, up until crowds began coming to listen to him perform,’ she stated.

The songwriter’s sibling concluded by stating that her older brother ‘was a phenomenal person.’

Jimmy had been on hospice for a week before he passed away.

Sir Paul McCartney, 81, reportedly visited the Grammy nominee at his home within the last week to sing to him.

A statement posted on Jimmy’s social media accounts that announced his death said: ‘Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1 surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs.

‘He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.’

Jimmy is survived by his wife, Jane Slagsvol, as well as daughter Savannah, daughter Sarah and son Cameron.