James "Jim" Lee Day

He was born July 5, 1932, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Floyd and Helen Brothers Day. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Barbara, and daughter, Sandra.

Jim started Day Sign Company in 1961, building it from a small hand-painted business into one of the most prominent sign companies in the Kanawha Valley. Jim was the one of the very few that specialized in the lost art of Neon Sign fabrication. A process that requires manually bending heated glass tubes into a custom shape and pumping gases into the tubes to create the multiple colors. Jim was recognized for his outstanding talent in this media many times by local newspaper features and most recently the WV FolkLore produced a special if his talent and it aired in WV Public TV.

Examples of his work can be seen many places in the Kanawha Valley like Tri-State Airport, Yeager Airport and various other businesses in the area. When asked recreate the beauty of the old Movie theaters in St. Albans and Spencer, he took the challenge and brought history back to life with his unique Neon fabricating talent.

He is survived by his daughter, Pamela of St. Albans; several brothers and sisters, nieces, nephews and sisters-in-law.

Celebration of Jim's life will be 11 a.m. Friday, April 19, at Casdorph & Curry Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans.

Gathering of family and friends will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.