Jack Willard Day

Jack Willard Day was born May 6, 1941, in Burien, Washington, died on February 8, 2022, in Gresham, Oregon.

Jack lived in Washington with his parents Leon & Ivyl Day, his brothers Dallas & Norman and sister Arlene. His brother Dallas is the only surviving member of his family. After he graduated from George Washington High School, Los Angeles, June 19, 1959, he was drafted into the Navy. He was stationed on board USS ARD26 Auxiliary Repair Dock a floating dock for Submarines and Destroyers. While in the Navy he met and fell in love with Bonnie Flann. They were married two months after he was discharged and were together 57 years before Bonnie passed. They had two children Jack W. Day Jr. and Lezlie Elaine Day Whipple. They in return blessed Jack and Bonnie with three grandsons, Jason Day, Brock, and Dusty Whipple.

Jack worked for Pacific Telephone Co. in Los Angeles as a telephone installer. He was a fast learner and advanced quickly in the company. He was able to transfer to Portland, OR in 1970. He retired at 49 years of age in 1990. He was a man that always had to be busy. He enjoyed working out problems, inventing stuff, he was a man of many skills. Staying home didn’t last long he started working for Rose City Properties Managements and stayed with them for three years using his skills and learning new ones. Goodwill was his last paying job. Once the travel bug bit him, Bonnie and Jack took many cruises and land tours to many places around the world. Sometimes they traveled with their best friends Chris & Terry Blackstad a couple from California.

Jack loved cars he even built a 1914 Dodge car replica in 1968 which the kids loved to ride in with him. In his lifetime he owned twenty-five cars most recently he bought himself a model Y Tesla. He loved it so much, he bought three more for his grandson’s, Brock, Dusty, and Jason.

Jack said he wanted to be remembered as a Jokester, which he was since he was a youngster. When he was in the second grade, he had put a raw egg in a classmate’s lunch bag. He went home for lunch and returned to school and was met by the principle and escorted to the office. He learned a girl had received the egg and thinking it was aa hard boil she cracked it on the head of another girl, and it made a mess on her and the floor. He was disciplined but still to this day he couldn’t figure out how they knew that he was the Jokester. Recently at a Halloween Costume party Jack went dressed in his normal clothes and brought a box with him. When everyone was done playing Bunco it was time to pick the best costume. So, everyone lined up and Jack took out the box and stood in it. No one could figure out what his costume was, so they asked him, and he said smiling…I’m Jack in the Box!

Later after his wife Bonnie had passed Jack visited the Gresham Senior Center and started taking day trips with them. He met Terry Ann Pullen there. On his birthday, Terry asked if she could buy him an ice cream and ever since then they have been together, traveling and volunteering and falling in love. Many new memories were made with family and friends.

Proceeded in Death: Wife Bonnie Day, Mother Ivyl Day, Father Leon Day, Brother Norman Day, and Sister Arlene Day.

Survivors: Brother Dallas and his wife Beverly Day, Son Jay Day and Alice Fillie, Daughter Lezlie Day Whipple and her husband John Whipple, Grandsons Jason Day and Hannah Mohrmann, Brock Whipple and Jordan Lee Nguyen, Dusty Whipple and Ann Marie Booth, Niece Dianna Day Drennen, Nephew Randy Day, and Special Friend Terry Ann Pullen Pets: Ringo his cat, will be living with Terry.

A funeral service for Jack will be held Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 10:00 am at Bateman Carroll Funeral Home, 520 W. Powell Blvd, Gresham, followed by his graveside service at 12:00 Noon at Sunnyside Chapel of the Chimes Gardens, 11667 SE Stevens Rd, Happy Valley, Oregon.

He was also a very generous and caring man ready to help those in need. Jack passed peacefully in his sleep. Jack asked that instead of flowers, please consider donating to the Gresham Senior Center, 600 NE 8th Street Suite 130, Gresham, Oregon 97030 in his memory.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.batemancarrollfunerals.com for the Day family.