Byron Martin Day

Dad made the journey to his final destination on August 25, 2020, joining his beloved wife in heaven.

His life began on a farm in Maine in 1931. He was one of five children born to Norman and Delia Day. He spent his formative years hunting, fishing, harvesting blueberries, picking apples, and helping cut and sell Christmas trees. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. One of his earliest assignments was to McGhee Tyson air base in Knoxville, Tennessee. While there, mutual friends arranged for him to meet a beautiful young woman--our mother--and they married shortly thereafter.

Their life together was quite adventurous. Dad was stationed in Detroit, Michigan; Landstuhl, Germany; San Antonio, Texas; Fairbanks, Alaska; Washington, D.C.; Highland, California; Tokyo, Japan; and, finally, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Their family grew along the way until the family of two became a family of seven.
Dad retired from the Air Force after 20 years of service. He took a job as a TV repairman at American Furniture and he had his own small business on the side. His second retirement took him and Mom to a comfy home on a piece of land in Edgewood, New Mexico.

He always said he was a Jack of all trades and a master of none, but we strongly disagree. It seemed to us there was nothing he could not do, including fine carpentry, appliance repair, vehicle mechanics, oil painting, and chainsaw carving. He was truly a remarkable man. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s after Mom died in 2012, we had to watch helplessly as our Dad faded slowly away.

Dad is survived by his five children; Angie Bussell, Sharon Bremner, Norman Day, Allen Day and Ron Day; their spouses, John Bussell, Don Bremner, Diane Day, and Arlene Day; grandchildren Thomas Bussell, Daniel Bremner, Michelle Day, Jennipher Day, Sarah Williams, and Chelsea Day; his brothers Dukey Day and Arnold Day and their spouses, children and grandchildren; and sister Lillian Walsh.