Rena Fayette Bright “Fay” Rue

1925-2020

Rena Fayette Bright “Fay” Rue died peacefully April 12, 2020 in Mt. Vernon, IL. Fay Bright Rue was born March 30, 1925 in Danville, Kentucky to John Rochester and Alice Sands Montgomery Bright. 

She graduated from Danville High School and Kentucky College for Women. On December 26, 1944 she married her high school sweetheart, Bud, in Miami Florida where he was serving in the Navy. The couple moved to Mt. Vernon, Illinois in the early 1950s. 

Fay was one of the early “Pink Lady” volunteers for Good Samaritan Hospital. She was an avid reader and member of Fortnightly Study Club. She served as a Deacon at the First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Vernon. In addition she was active in area Girl Scouts and with the swim team at the Mt Vernon Recreation Club and was a member of Bridge Club and the Geological Wives group. 

One of Fay’s joys was as First Mate on the Honey Dew. She and her Captain Bud spent many happy winters sailing the Abacos. She and Bud retired to Florida where they remained until 2015 when she moved back to Mt Vernon to be near family. 

Fay is survived by her daughter Fayette Rue (Ken) Schmutzler of Golden, Missouri, her son Jonathan “Rocky” (Wendy) Rue of Mt. Vernon, Illinois; and daughter Georganne Rue (Michael) Williams of Panama City, Florida; a brother Thomas “Bud” Bright of Bendor Farm, Stanford, Kentucky; and grandchildren: James Witten, Jennifer Witten, Jill (Herb) Maddox, Sandra McGuire, Julia (Jessi) Delgado, Lillian (James) Manno, Lauren (Jerry) Rich, Michelle (Curtis) Kohne, Hunter (Erin) Rue; fifteen great-grandchildren; four nephews, Mitch, George and David Rue and John Bright, son of Bud Bright, a niece Cynthia Chitwood and a great-niece, Alice Montgomery Adams. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Edward (Bud) Evans Rue, her parents, her nephew Thomas Bright and her niece Laura Bright Adams. Fay will be buried in Florida with Bud at a later date. The online guestbook is available at www.stithcares.com.