George Walter Day

George Walter Day, age 84, of Filer, Idaho passed away surrounded by his loving family on July, 5, 2017 of natural causes.

George was born in Kingsville, Texas on April 2, 1933 during the great depression, to Alcie Oertle and Edward Day. At age 8 he lost his mother to cancer and his two youngest sisters went to live with others. Throughout his life he never lost track of them. He was blessed to have four sisters who referred to him fondly as "Sonny".  By age 13 he was supporting himself including working on the St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico Railway as an electrician apprentice. Mom said he got the job because he was small enough to poke through the vents to the boiler.

He entered the military at age 16 and his service to this country in the National Guard (1949-1951) and Air Force (1951-1955) was one of his proudest memories. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force at the rank of staff sergeant.  He received the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He was stationed in France during the Korean Conflict and learned to speak French and traveled throughout Europe whenever possible. Upon discharge he attended Texas A & I under the GI bill as an engineering major. He told a story of ordering hot water at the local café and adding ketchup, salt and pepper to make soup to get by. The owner of the diner hired him and they became great friends and eventually helped him land one of the best jobs in Kingsville, at the Celanese Chemical Plant.

George met his lifelong companion, wife and friend, Ruth Janette Cole when she was 17 years old and they later eloped (when she was 20 years old) to Miami, Oklahoma on October 19, 1959. They have been married 58 years. They were blessed with three children, Alcie Ruth, George Randall (Buster) and Susan Louise.  They began life in Texas and their adventuresome spirits took them to Nevada and Arizona but their retirement to Idaho was their favorite and final home. Mom and dad's love for life was a magnet to their children and eventually all three children followed them to Idaho.

George's career began as a apprentice electrician and led him to the title of Chief Negotiator; Contract Specialist for the U.S. Government's Western Area Power Administration. He was an expert in the field of electricity, including the power grid, generation, transmission and distribution across the Western United States. He retired in 1988 after working for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Department of Energy. He often told the story of why he left Hoover Dam and transferred to the Park Service. He had trained a young African American engineer and given him a satisfactory recommendation. When asked to reverse his recommendation he refused and knew his career at the Bureau was over.

Some of George's amazing life experiences included stock car racing, touring Europe on his 650cc BSA motorcycle, skiing in the Alps, driving his 1955 Jaguar Mark 7 sedan, riding horses especially in parades, hunting, camping as well as many others. He was a great story teller and made us feel like we were right there with him on his adventures.

Community service was another one of George's passions. He was Chairman of the Board for Boulder City Hospital and instrumental in getting the new hospital built in 1973. His many areas of service included chairing the Boulder City Damboree celebration, President of the American Legion Posts 31 and 54, city councilman, membership on development and planning commissions, Masons, Elks as well as other volunteer efforts. July 28, 1988 was proclaimed "A day in honor of George W. Day" by Governor Richard H. Bryan.

Retirement to Idaho was brought about by friends Warren & Marie Fisher who found the perfect property. Mom says "they came, they saw, they bought." Many special friends taught him how to  be a farmer. Along with tending to his 35 acre farm, his favorite project in retirement was helping with several small power plants on the Snake River with his friend Tom McCauley.

George leaves behind a grieving family of three sisters, many nieces and nephews, three children, nine grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren with two more arriving shortly.  We will all miss his many colorful stories and are committed to carrying his legacy on to future generations. A celebration of life is schedule for July 22, 2017 at 7:00pm on the Day Farm. All are welcome to come and share your memories of George.