Santa Barbara

Bay, lived for being “jolly” and loved fun. She was a beloved grandmother to 13 children, two great-grandchildren, and was a creator of welcoming homes that always had something from her beautiful garden in a vase.

Bay was caring, kind, a marvelous teacher, loved nature and taught her family to stop and note its beauty. She loved all creatures, philosophy, gardening, needlepoint, playing recorder, classical music (loud), travel, and writing (she wrote for the local Corralitos newsletter and a few short years ago published a book of stories, musings and poetry). She loved her family and was their head cheerleader. She loved sharing her strong opinions, being a friend, being a hostess, sharing her home on holidays with those who needed a place of warmth, and she freely shared her very recognizable laugh. Bay was raised in Topanga Canyon, at her parents’ idyllic Montessori influenced farm school, Barton School. Although she had three older siblings, Bay also had around 60 siblings in the students who boarded there. Bay moved with her first husband, William Nigh, and three children, Barbie, Alison, and Bill(y), to Santa Cruz in 1966. She returned to school and finished her degree at UCSC in 1969; at admissions she was told that "as an older woman (of 31) she would inspire other students". She was one of the four founders of the Daisy, an upscale resale shop benefitting a local charity. Bay then created and owned In Stitches, a yarn/crafts store on Pacific Garden Mall. Bay and Bill’s marriage ended in 1976, and Bay carried on.

She eventually met the man of her dreams while both were working at Roaring Camp. He was a Scotsman, Tom Alexander, who made her laugh, was kind, caring and a true companion who made her feel like a queen. Toms two sons, John and Craig, were added to Bay's family.

Tom and Bay enjoyed 35 wonderful years of marriage. Most years were spent in Corralitos, creating a beautiful spot in the redwoods that was a place for gardening, enjoying nature and where grandchildren could have grand adventures. Their family grew to include spouses of children Jack (Barbie), Tom (Alison), Julie (Bill), Pam (John), Cynthia (Craig). A few years after Tom’s death Bay moved to Santa Barbara, with dog/partner Barney, to be near one of her daughters. Bay's motto was “It will all work out”. It did “work out” as Bay had family holding her hands and bagpipe music (played by her son in law) ushering her from this earth. The family then sang “Feeling Groovy” (a Bay theme song) to her one last time, and, amidst the tears, had some good laughs.