Edward Gary Gum

E. Gary Gum was born on April 10, 1957, at Carbondale Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, Illinois to Earl G. and Carol L. (McCracken) Gum. He grew up on the family farm near Tamalco, Illinois. He graduated from Mulberry Grove High School in Mulberry Grove, Illinois in 1975. While in school, he was active in basketball, baseball, track, science club and the Industrial Arts Club. He held local and State Industrial Art offices. Gary had strong religious beliefs starting with the youth group at the Methodist Church in Keyesport, Illinois and a baseball team with the youth group at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Greenville, Illinois.

Gary attended Kaskaskia Junior College at Centralia, Illinois and graduated with an associate degree in nursing in 1979. He moved to Phoenix, Arizona in the early 1980s. He received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix. Gary worked at Boswell Hospital in Sun City, Arizona. Gary served on the Peoria, Arizona Chamber of Commerce where he served a term as President. He was a member of the Arizona State Board of Nursing, and licensed fiduciary for several years. He was a nursing instructor for many years at Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, Chamberlain University, and Grand Canyon University. While in Arizona he was a frequent fan of the Arizona Diamondbacks, having attended the 2001 World Series. His dedication never waived from his beloved St. Louis Cardinals.

Gary relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2010 to start up the first out of state campus for Grand Canyon University. He met his wife Marie, CockerMom on Match.com and shortly after CockerDad proposed naturally in front of the Stan Musial Memorial at Busch Stadium in St Louis, Mo. They married on March 5, 2011 at La Bella Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. They resided in Rio Rancho, New Mexico for 12 years overlooking the Rio Grande River which relaunched his quest for photography. Together with their four Cocker Spaniels they enjoyed RVing with both the Rambling Elks of Rio Rancho and Good Sams Roadrunner RV Club. While in Albuquerque he continued to perform as Chief Nursing Officer at Kindred Hospital of Albuquerque, and Clinical Director of Medical Indian Services at San Felipe Pueblo in Santa Domingo before retiring in 2019. He moved to Las Cruces, NM in 2022.

Gary spent a total of 40 years as a dedicated nurse, however his additional love, notwithstanding the ST Louis Cardinals, was photography which he transitioned to full time during retirement. He first developed an interest in photography during his time as a travel nurse in the 1980s to capture the beauty around the hospitals where he worked. He later published his first book, Take Two Cameras and Call Me in the Morning Vol. 1, in 2025 reflecting his eye for sunsets and sunrises at home and on his and Marie’s many RV travels throughout the Southwest and cruises abroad. Gary’s work has been recognized by the Arizona Highways, Magazine, New Mexico Magazine, Art Square Gallery of New York, and the Gardenia Exhibition Group. He was honored to participate in the New Mexico Cancer Center’s 2020-2021 “Art of Healing” exhibition in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was the feature cover for The Women of the West Mesa Cookbook having sold some 1000 copies. He was the photographer, digital creator, and owner of TopGum Photography.

Gary passed away February 28, 2026, at MountainView Hospital in Las Cruces. He is survived by his wife of 15 years Marie Anne Gum. His surviving siblings are Christine (Phillip) Garner, Cynthia (Dale) Myers, Douglas W. Gum and several cousins, nieces and nephews all in Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, and California. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law Mark (Diane) Vokes and Michael J. Vokes in Texas, and hundreds of good friends in Arizona, Illinois and New Mexico. Lastly, he will be missed by his two Cocker Spaniels Darth and Princess Leia who adored him. Gary was proceeded in death by his parents and his father-in-law Edwin Allen Vokes.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Las Cruces, NM on March 15 followed by a Life Celebration in Greenville, Illinois on April 10, 2026. Time and place to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the E. Gary Gum/TopGum Photography Memorial Nursing Scholarship fund at P. O. Box 404, Radium Springs, New Mexico 88054-0404. Please continue to enjoy Gary’s life work of photography on his website TopGumPhotography.com. Any art purchase proceeds will be donated to his E. Gary Gum/TopGum Photography Memorial Nursing Scholarships.