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Lee Gainey Edwards Dunbar
July 07, 2026
Cotuit- Lee Gainey Edwards Dunbar, 77, died peacefully while surrounded by family on June 30th after a courageous battle against cancer.
Lee was the first of nine children of William Gainey and Anne Rice Gainey of Orleans. Her lifelong commitment to caring for others began at an early age while helping her mother with the growing family. Lee grew up in the Skaket neighborhood in the 1950s and 1960s, in what was affectionately known as the “Gainey Gulch.”
Known for her quick wit and gift for making people laugh, Lee was best described in her own words as “a hoot!” She devoted her life to helping others, but was also fascinated with the little things in life. Her granddaughter, Kaeleigh Edwards, recalled, “She enjoyed spending mornings walking out on her back porch. It was there that she fed the birds and watched the squirrels jumping around, and where she would scold the chipmunks for hoarding birdseed. Some of my favorite memories with her are from those times.”
Lee graduated from Nauset Regional High School in 1967. After a summer traveling in Britain and Ireland, Lee settled in Washington State. Here she began her long career in human services, spending the rest of her years on both coasts working with adults with special needs. She married and welcomed two children, Jessica and Ron.
In 2004, Lee returned to Cape Cod to help care for her mother. Lee met her husband David Dunbar online. They were married in 2009, and bought their Cotuit home in 2012.
Lee is survived by her husband, David Dunbar, children Jessica Edwards and partner Justin White of Mashpee, Ron Edwards of Brewster, Adrienne Fontaine and husband Patrick of Cotuit, and David Dunbar Jr. and wife Stephanie of Cape Coral, FL. Other survivors are grandchildren Kaeleigh Edwards of Mashpee, and Livia, Seth, and Alex Fontaine of Cotuit. Lee is also survived by her eight siblings, Anne Ekstrom, William Gainey, Darcy Truehart, James Gainey, Mary Gainey, Tom Gainey, Tim Gainey, and Patricia Ferzoco, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.
There will be a celebration of Lee’s life in August.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cotuit Library Association at PO Box 648, Cotuit MA 02635 or online at cotuitlibrary.org.
The full obituary can be viewed on the Bartlett Funeral Home website at bartlett1620.com/obituaries
Lee was the first of nine children of William Gainey and Anne Rice Gainey of Orleans. Her lifelong commitment to caring for others began at an early age while helping her mother with the growing family. Lee grew up in the Skaket neighborhood in the 1950s and 1960s, in what was affectionately known as the “Gainey Gulch.”
Known for her quick wit and gift for making people laugh, Lee was best described in her own words as “a hoot!” She devoted her life to helping others, but was also fascinated with the little things in life. Her granddaughter, Kaeleigh Edwards, recalled, “She enjoyed spending mornings walking out on her back porch. It was there that she fed the birds and watched the squirrels jumping around, and where she would scold the chipmunks for hoarding birdseed. Some of my favorite memories with her are from those times.”
Lee graduated from Nauset Regional High School in 1967. After a summer traveling in Britain and Ireland, Lee settled in Washington State. Here she began her long career in human services, spending the rest of her years on both coasts working with adults with special needs. She married and welcomed two children, Jessica and Ron.
In 2004, Lee returned to Cape Cod to help care for her mother. Lee met her husband David Dunbar online. They were married in 2009, and bought their Cotuit home in 2012.
Lee is survived by her husband, David Dunbar, children Jessica Edwards and partner Justin White of Mashpee, Ron Edwards of Brewster, Adrienne Fontaine and husband Patrick of Cotuit, and David Dunbar Jr. and wife Stephanie of Cape Coral, FL. Other survivors are grandchildren Kaeleigh Edwards of Mashpee, and Livia, Seth, and Alex Fontaine of Cotuit. Lee is also survived by her eight siblings, Anne Ekstrom, William Gainey, Darcy Truehart, James Gainey, Mary Gainey, Tom Gainey, Tim Gainey, and Patricia Ferzoco, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.
There will be a celebration of Lee’s life in August.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cotuit Library Association at PO Box 648, Cotuit MA 02635 or online at cotuitlibrary.org.
The full obituary can be viewed on the Bartlett Funeral Home website at bartlett1620.com/obituaries
