My name is Tim Moyer and I was lucky enough to be Jim’s Nephew. Thank you for being here to honor his life.

I wanted to share a little about Uncle Jim and some of the memories I will cherish forever. He was special in so many ways. Jim always made the extra effort to make our time together special. My sister and I have vivid memories of Jim flying his plane to pick us up for a summer visit. He flew over our house and rocked his wings before landing at the local airport. Once we were in the air, he instructed me take the yoke and he convinced me I was flying the plane. It’s been over 40 years and I remember it like it was yesterday.

Summer visits were filled with boating, fishing, dirt bikes and social gatherings that always included good food, family and fun. Winter visits were just as special with lots of sled riding, snowmobiling and snowball fights. One of our favorite winter memories was the sleigh ride behind a team of draft horses. I recall it was a cold night and there was a flask being passed around the sleigh. When it ended up in my hands, I was not sure if I should take a sip or just pass it along. I looked to Jim for an indication of what to do. He smiled and gave a nod of approval. As I took that sip he leaned in close and spoke these words in a firm voice ..... “Your Mother does not need to know about this”. Little did I know, but that phrase would be repeated numerous times over the next 40 years.

In the 80’s I was vacationing with my parents and Jim at the beach. We enjoyed watching the fishermen pull in their nets each afternoon. On one occasion the net was filled with plenty of fish and a rather large shark. The shark was thrashing and damaging the net. The fishermen wanted nothing to do with it. Jim asked them if he could have the shark and they were happy to get rid of it. The next thing I knew we were off to the store to buy a grill and shark was on the dinner menu. Once again ... good food, family and fun.

Jim truly cared about his family, friends and community. He enjoyed giving back. On more than one occasion while running errands with Jim we were stopped by former students. They were happy to see Jim and made a point to thank him for the difference he made in their lives. He made a difference in many lives.

I wish with all my heart that each of you could have an Uncle Jim in your life. If you don’t I hope you find one someday.

    In Memory of My Dad, Jim Day, 11/6/14

I am Deb, the oldest of Jim's 3 children. Our family thanks you all for attending today's ceremony honoring my father's life.

It is the most difficult task imaginable to stand before you and do justice with simple words to commemorate my dad-- a man who was the most influential person in my life and who I loved so dearly.

Mr Day, James , Jimmie, Jim or Jeeeeim as they say around these parts, was known by all these names (and a few more probably not fit for church) because he was many things to many people throughout his full life.

Natalie Babbitt said

,Do not fear death... only the unlived life. You don't have to live forever; You just have to live. -

Those of us who knew my dad know he certainly lived by these words. Jim worked hard and played hard. He was a passionate educator, a man that made a difference, touching the lives of many of his students’ and teachers.dI am aware of many former students who approached him to thank him for his guidance. And Dad still corresponded with several educators from his former schools.

. He taught by example that hard work and education were foundations to success. During those early years, my father had to work other jobs besides teaching to provide for his family. He worked one summer as a milkman. One of my fondest memories of that time was dad letting me ride with him in the milk truck making deliveries. Once,we saw a snapping turtle in peril in the middle of a busy road. Dad hopped out of the truck and stopped traffic to take that snapper to safety. Just the kind of man he was.

So After nine years of successful teaching, his talents were well sought after and he was promoted to High school principal at the young age of 32.With Such a demanding career, one would think that family would take a back seat but this was not the case. He made time in his hectic schedule to attend his kids many tennis matches, softball and basketball games. Once, He even caught a ride with a long distance truck driver who took him from New York to Chicago to see one of my sister's games. That was just the kind of man he was.

He played as hard as he worked. Jim Day lived life to its fullest. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed skiing, biking, hunting and fishing. He loved being in the woods the best. He knew the names of the trees and which birds were calling.

So often on our walks together he would point out which animal had made the track we came across, or say, “Look, there’s a deer in the clearing ahead.” I glimpsed my first loon when we were kayaking in the Adirondacks, saw my only bobcat as we were portaging across a logging road. He taught me to hunt and the highlight of our hunts together resulted in my shooting 1000 pound Elk with one clean shot. He was so proud. Dad, thanks for instilling in me a deep reverence for nature.

Yes, Dad lived his life with gusto. He flew planes, rode motorcycles and snowmobiles,piloted boats, drove tandem semis and raced cars(both on and off the track, legally and otherwise!)

He was well known by his friends as a funloving prankster.--A real kid at heart . Whenever a friend's wheels went mysteiriously missing or an old junk car appeared in the dean's living room, or a deer's head popped up in a guy's bedroom, there was No doubt who was behind the mischief., it had JR written all over it.

Yes, My father was a true friend, and neighbor-- always ready to lend a hand, whether to help stack wood, shovel a sidewalk, chainsaw a path after a tornado or direct traffic after an accident His volunteered to unload a community food shelf truck, bought needy people free turkey dinners and often brought the poor down on their luck veteran's clothing and supplies.

.

Jim Day was a proud, intelligent man--a voracious reader and tireless self appointed grammar cop, whom could and would correct even your smallest mistake in syntax, usage or spelling! Woe to you who did not tell the difference between further, farther, there, their or they’re, singular, plural or possessive . One must pronounce“water” not “watah” And woe to you who dared say “ain’t”!

My father loved his family deeply. He was a devoted husband to his wife Patti, a loving father to his children, Debra, Tawne and Lance. His nephew Tim was like a second son to him. He was a dutiful son. Dad doted on all his precious cats , most recently Dale, Danica and Lil Bit. He delighted in blue grass music , thick juicy steaks and Jack Daniel's whiskey.

In his last years, my father slowed down quite a bit. He most enjoyed taking care of his house and gardens, adding to his impressive gun and knife collection, reading, taking walks around “Eagle Point” and spending time with his family.

As I said earlier, I think my dad was always a little boy at heart. As he aged, he deeply resented not being as able to do the things he so enjoyed in his younger days like fishing, hunting, telling tall tails, traveling, eating and drinking with his friends and family. On his last visit with me at my new home in Vermont two weeks ago, he told me he was ready to go--that he had lived a full life and had no unfinished business. I know this is true and it eases the pain of losing him a little.

Now, Death has taken him but it did not defeat him. As Don Williams Jr said, “Death may indeed be final but the love we share while living is eternal.”

JR shared his love so unselfishly with those he cared about. His love lives on in us-- his family and friends.

Thank you Jim, for being such a wonderful dad, husband,son, uncle,educator, mentor and friend. We love you and will miss you forever.