Arlette Hart Day

"Grande Dame of Murray"

1916-2015

Arlette Hart Day, born of noble parents, returned to her Heavenly Father and family February 17, 2015. She died after a six month battle with cancer at age 98.Arlette was born to Arthur William Hart and Evadyna Henderson Hart on August 31, 1916 in Preston, Idaho. She attended grade school, junior high school and high school in Logan, Utah. She also attended Utah State University, then known as the "Agricultural College."Arlette served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Western States Mission head-quartered in Denver, Colorado. She served during the bottom of the "Great Depression" - 1937 to 1939 - for 22 months when funds were scarce. She helped support her family when she returned home from her mission. The spirit of missionary work never left her. The Church News quoted her son Klint Day in November 3, 2013 as saying, "missionary work is her life." Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will all attest to that.Arlette met John Millard Day at Sugarhouse Music in the spring of 1946. She married John on November 15, 1946 and they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. One week prior to their marriage, they opened up their own Day Murray Music, 4914 South State Street in Murray, Utah. It has been in the same location for over 68 years. Arlette worked at the store for 53 years, retiring at age 83. Her sons and grandsons have carried on the tradition.Arlette has been involved in Murray City from the very beginning. Participation in the Murray Chamber of Commerce was always important to her. She was the first woman to be President of the Murray Chamber of Commerce. She served on the Library Board for eight years. She wrote much of a 486 page History of Murray. In 1976 she was chairman for the 4th of July Bi-centennial Parade. Arlette was awarded "Woman of the Year" in 1984 by the Green Sheet Newspaper. She received a Lifetime membership in Utah PTA, Charter member of the Murray Education Foundation, and organized the Murray Teenage Record Hops. She worked to obtain a building for Murray Senior Citizens which produced the Heritage Center. She and John were in charge of the Santa Claus Program in Downtown Murray, (later re-named "Christmas Tree Lighting.") She played Mrs. Santa for 24 years. Mother loved the arts. She was Executive Director of the Murray Symphony and Murray Symphonic Band and charter member of the Murray Arts Council. She raised the last needed monies to fund the Murray Amphitheater. She sponsored the Arlette Day Piano Competition in 1986 which lasted for nine seasons. She was given the Total Citizen Award from the Utah State Chamber of Commerce in 1981. She received the Hall of Fame award in 1992 by the Murray Chamber of Commerce. In 1996 she was recognized by the National District of Who's Who as a Professional in Business. She was Grand Marshall for the 1997 Independence Day Parade. She co-founded the Murray Museum for Historic Preservation. In 2001, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Murray Rotary Club. In 2003 she was awarded the Governor's award in the Humanities. Murray Mayor, Dan Snarr in May of 2003 inaugurated a ceremony for the induction of the Mayor's "Hall of Honor." Its first inductee was Arlette Hart Day. She was honored for her contributions to the Murray community. She's a Murray Legend.Mother was always a tireless worker in the Church. Besides her ongoing missionary activities, she worked diligently as a teacher in the auxiliaries. As a young married women, she taught the MIA-Maids class. Then for decades she taught the older young groups in Sunday School and her last effort was with the Primary children which she taught until she was almost 90-years-old. She taught all of these groups every week with rarely a substitute teacher. Her calling was as a teacher and she affected lives.Mother was a life-long learner. She loved to read good books, usually between four to six thousand pages a year. She retained her excellent memory to the end. Gospel learning and study was an important part of her life. Honoring her posterity on their birthdays and other important occasions was always a priority. You could not be in her presence without feeling of her great love.She is survived by her children: J. Klint Day (Rosanne Breitling); Val H. Day (Christine West) and Connie Day (Dr. J. Mark Christensen). They have 13 grandchildren (one deceased) and 35 great-grandchildren and three on the way. She is survived by two brothers, Jed and Bret Hart (Rene), two sisters: Ada Shumway and Jocelyn Faux (Frank) and sister-in-law, Donna Mae Hart. She was preceded in death by her eternal companion, John Millard Day, who passed away January 31, 2002.Appreciation to long-time caregivers Beverly Alder and Mel Tuitavake; also the hospice personnel.Services, 11:00AM Monday, February 23, 2015 at the Murray 3rd Ward Chapel: 160 East Brown Street (4600 South). Friends may call Sunday from 5:00 until 8:00 PM at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary: 4760 South State Street and Monday, one hour prior to services at the Church. Interment will be at Valley View Memorial Park.For any who would like to make a donation in remembrance of Arlette, she loved to support the General Missionary Fund. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com.