Jimmy Buffett was not âdepressed ever. Not even at the end,â family, friends say of final days

The world is mourning Jimmy Buffett, but the “Margaritaville” singer kept his spirits up until the very end.

Buffett died in Sag Harbor last Thursday, following a years-long battle with Merkel cell skin cancer. He was 76.

His sister Laurie Buffett McGuane and brother-in-law, novelist and decades-long friend Tom McGuane, spoke to People about the beloved musician’s final days.

“He was always high-spirited, fun-loving, hard working and creative,” McGuane, 83, told the outlet. “It is remarkable to be able to say that he remained the same during the last month of this life. His sense of humor was fully intact. God bless him for keeping himself that way.”

Buffett’s sisters Laurie and Lucy “shared memories of our childhood with Jimmy during his last days,” said Buffett McGuane.

“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.”

Noting that Buffett “brought joy to so many,” Buffett McGuane said, “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.”

Labor Day Weekend was supposed to be a celebratory one for Buffett, who had planned to surprise Telluride Film Festival attendees by joining McGuane. The pair intended to be there for the world premiere of “All That Is Sacred,” a documentary that stars them and premiered mere hours after Buffett passed away, Variety reports.

“He seemed so forceful and energetic all his life, every minute of it, that it’s hard to believe that he wouldn’t have ordered death out of the room,” McGuane told the outlet.

Buffett’s family announced his death last week in a statement shared to social media and his website.

“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” read the statement. “He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”

Buffett is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Jane Slagsvol, and their three children, Savannah, Delaney, and Cameron.