William Day Jr.

William Spencer "Billy" Day Jr., with Rebecca Elizabeth Day Petheram, his sole surviving daughter from his marriage to Joyce D. Hebert beside him, peacefully passed away at his home Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, at 1:45 p.m. A distinguished Southern statesman, gentleman, devoted public servant, loving father and grandfather, loyal friend, gifted athlete and expert sportsman, Billy Day will be missed by many who loved and admired him. Mayor pro tempore of Baton Rouge for 4 years, Billy was responsible for many improvements in basic services for East Baton Rouge Parish, including road and drainage improvements. He served 2 years on the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board (past president), 8 years on the Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission (past president), 8 years as city-parish councilman for Ward II, the Executive Committtee, Finance Committee, Capital Improvements Committee, Planning and Zoning Commission for 9 years, Baton Rouge Airport Committee for 8 years, Baker Board of Adjustment, Capital District Law Enforcement Committee, Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District (past president), PR committee for BREC and as the chairman of the Flood Study Commission. He was designated a Louisiana Outstanding Young Man in 1967. He worked for Standard Oil and was chief deputy assessor at the East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor's Office, following in the footsteps of his father who had held the assessor's position. Billy Day was inducted in to the Baker High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009, where he played football (center), basketball (forward) and baseball (first base), lettering in all three sports, and was part of the 1947 Class B state champions in both football and basketball. Billy went on to play football for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in Ruston. Mr. Day served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Billy was preceded in death by his father, William Spencer Day Sr.; mother, June Edyth Cheek Day; brother, Robert Cheek Day; sister, Irma June Day; and daughters, Cynthia Margaret Day, Pamela June Day and Tippy. Billy leaves behind his beloved friends and family, a daughter, Rebecca Elizabeth Day Petheram and son-in-law, Philip Hugh Petheram, of Wishkah Valley, Wash.; grandson, Thomas Spencer Savoy, of Wishkah Valley; granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth Jordan and grandson-in-law, Joshua Allen Jordan, of Moscow, Idaho; three nieces, Debbie Thunem, Lisa Towey and Laura Reilly; David Troxclair, Eugene Rogillio and Doc Draughter. Visitation at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., on Friday, Dec. 6, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Services at Baker Presbyterian Church, 3015 Groom Road, Baker, on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 11 a.m. Pallbearers will be Phil Petheram, Bill Dye, Ronnie Knight, Bobby Joe Aertker, Carl Fontenot, Chuck Fontenot, David Troxclair and Robby Day. Honorary pallbearers are Charles Dye, Gene Rogillio, Tommy Neck, Joe Brien and Kane Mitchell. You may leave condolences at www.greenoaksfunerals.com.