Thomas Neil Day Sr.

Tom’s highest desire was to raise and care for his family, teaching his children to be upstanding individuals and to walk in the way of the Lord. He constantly lead by example and was the very demonstration of how to love those around you. It was a good life, worthy of living and remembering.

Born on August 28th, 1954 to Neil Landis Day and Carol Day (Scafe), Thomas Neil Day Sr. entered this world in Bremerton, WA. He was preceded in birth by siblings Ted Day, Tori Day and Terri Gaines and followed by Timmy Day and Tracy Day.

He spent most of his growing years on Barge Street in Yakima, WA where he sledded ice blocks, picked several varieties of fruit and created various other forms of chaos. He enjoyed being able to eat anything and everything, play outdoors and eventually attend Davis High School. Tom’s first job was as a bus boy as Gaspereretti’s Italian Restaurant, where he loved the free meal and all were suspicious he only worked to raise gas money so he could get up Chinook Pass to his first love, Cabin 19.

He attended Seattle Pacific University where his height finally caught up with his ambitions. There he played about every intermural sport invented, swung from many a dorm balcony and was an adequate pole vaulter on the school track team. He never found a challenge, or a pizza, that he didn’t like. He was able to channel his outdoor spirit just enough to earn a Bachelor’s degree to go with his teaching certificate.

Tom’s first professional role was in the rural Oregon town of Hepner, as a dashing high school English teacher specializing in coaching basketball and golf. His career led him north where he went to work at Hollywood Hill, Bear Creek, Sorenson and Wellington schools as the ultimate physical education teacher. While he later would serve at Northshore and Timbercrest Junior High schools, it was during his time at Hollywood Hills where Tom met the person who would become the most consistent force in his life.

Teaching circles in the Pacific Northwest are small and Tom’s sister was married to the Principal of Cedar River where a lovely lady by the name of Leslie Somerville was teaching 5th grade. It wasn’t long before Wes and Tori decided to set the pair up. Staged as a volunteer event at a school fair, they met on May 20th 1981 and hit it off. While their first date – digging for razor clams in the rain – was suspect, Leslie decided that he was worth being cold and wet for, as it was obvious he “dug” her.

On December 19th of 1981, Tom and Leslie were married. Shortly after their first son, Thomas Neil Jr, was born. They lived in Bothell, Washington and had two more children: John Michael and Katie Marie. Leslie stayed home to raise the children and Tom spent his working hours at Northshore Junior High. Tom’s love for his wife was demonstrated by his commitment to her over their many years together and reciprocated when he became sick in October 2018. Their kind of love is everlasting; after Tom’s passing, Leslie found a Valentines card and jewelry he had prepared to give her.

Second only to his family was his love of the outdoors, where his favorite pastimes included fishing, basketball, hiking, camping and attempting to splash passing cars by jumping from the bridge into the river at just the right time – all activities that were usually achieved in a trip to the cabin.

After exerting significant pressure on his children, Tom became an active and dotting grandfather to Koralynn Marie, Tommy Neil, Hannah Beth and Emery Lenora. Even in his final weeks, his love for his grandchildren could bring a smile to his face.

For those that knew him, this loving man, husband, father, grandfather, listener, helper, volunteer, lover of life, procrastinator, cookie monster and friend left this life too soon. If the measure of life isn’t the number of days, but the impact that time had on those around you, this Day stood well above his 6’4 frame.

A Celebration of Life will be held at CrossPointe Church in Bothell, Wa on March 1st at 3PM. Donations in Tom's honor can be made to the Day Family Head for the Cure team or the Alvord Brain Tumor Center at the University of Washington.