David J. Day

David J. Day, of Denver, Colorado, passed away at home on the morning of April 11, 2016 due to a heart attack. Dave was born to Okey and Dove Day June 29, 1930 in Weaver, West Virginia and had two sisters and four brothers. Dave had the distinction of growing up in Arthurdale, West Virginia, a model New Deal Community for coal miner families and had the pleasure of meeting Eleanor Roosevelt many times. Dave graduated from Arthurdale High School in 1948. He played basketball, football, and baseball. Dave was active in the community, especially in the church youth program and choir. He enlisted in the Air Force and served during the Korean War in the field of reconnaissance and aerial photography. His interest in cameras and lenses led him to choose a career as an optician and he attended Erie County College in Buffalo, New York. By this time he had met and married the love of his life, Mary Gray. During his time in the Air Force he had traveled to Denver's Lowry Air Force Base and it was there he decided to make Denver his home. He enjoyed camping, photography, cultural events, working with stained glass, baking and gardening. For many years, Dave was an active member of the Denver MountainAires Barbershop Chorus and Wednesday Morning Singers; he participated in national conventions and sang throughout the year at local venues. He belonged to the International Order of Rocky Mountain Goats, dedicated to preservation of this magnificent animal. Dave was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, American Legion Post #1, and Arthurdale Heritage Inc. Dave was a Mason, and this led him on a journey of which he was most proud. He was a member of the Black Hawk Lodge #11 AF & AM; Denver Chapter #2 Royal Arch Masons; Sottish Rite, Commandery #1 Knights Templar; Denver Consistory, A & ASR; Denver Council #1; Cryptic Masons; El Jebel Shriners; and Metro Chapter #157 Order of Eastern Star. Dave was preceded in death by brothers Jiggs, Allen, and Robert Day, and sister Dorothy (Day) Wolfe. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Day, his daughter Katherine (Day) Vollenweider, grandson, David Vollenweider, sister Janet (Day) Cherry, brother Roger Day, and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held in David's honor at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 11150 East Dartmouth Avenue, Aurora, Colorado, 80014. Visitation will be held Sunday April 24, 2016, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm and Monday, April 25, 9:30 am - 10:30 am. A Funeral Service will be held Monday, April 25, 10:30 am. Interment will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetery, April 25, 2:15 pm, Military Honors rendered by the United States Air Force. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be offered in David Day's name to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, c/o El Jebel Shriners, 3443 S. Galena St. Suite 250, Denver, CO 80231. Please share memories of David, and condolences for his family in the guestbook below.