2019/04/obit-day-IMG_0586-2-208x300.jpgVernon Day, a longtime resident of Pagosa Springs, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 15, in Tampa, Fla. He was five days away from his 93rd birthday. He was born in 1926 in St. Louis, Mo., and the family soon moved to Salem, Mo., where he grew up. The Day Lumber Company was started that same year.
He served in the Navy in WWII on the USS Fulton, a submarine tender. After he got out, the family and lumber business moved to Pagosa Springs. He attended Fort Lewis College and Colorado State University, where he graduated with a degree in forestry in 1950. He married Betty Smith two years later.
He retired at an early age and traveled around the U.S., Canada and Mexico with his wife, Betty, and daughter Brenda — much of which was done in the travel trailer. He was a dedicated member of the Community United Methodist Church, where he served as treasurer for many years.
He and Betty were married for 30 years. After her passing, he was lucky to find love again and married Jimmye Houghton. The traveling expanded to Asia, Scandinavia and Europe. They also bought a winter home in Tucson, Ariz.
After Jimmye’s passing, he moved to Tampa, Fla., to be near his daughter and granddaughter, where he lived for two years.
He is survived by his daughter, Brenda, and granddaughter Gillian; Jimmye’s children Paul Houghton and wife Linda, Beverly Cragg and husband Steve; his grandkids, Parker Cragg and Kelly Vicente and her husband Raul and child Steven.
A memorial service will be held at the Community United Methodist Church on Saturday, May 11 at 10 a.m.
