SOUTH HIRAM- Elwyn C. Day passed away at home on January 27, 2025. He was born on August 1, 1937, the youngest of three children of Roland and Iva Day. He grew up on the farm with his family and learned everything from his mother and father. He always credited his farm days for giving him the knowledge and skills to fix, build, and create things. Everything was useful and he was a saver. “One never knew when that useful thing would be needed” is what he always said and believed.
He went to work at WL Sturgeon with his sister, Theresa, and brother-in-law, Bill Sturgeon, as a teenager. When Bill suddenly passed away in 1969, Elwyn stepped in to help his sister run the business until 1985 when he started his own business, Day’s Excavating. He was always a hard worker. He married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Dooley, in 1956 and together they raised four children, James, Ellen, Susan, and Karen. One of his favorite people was his father-in-law, Jim Dooley, who taught him so many things and gave him so many laughs. He was always planning his next project and instilled his strong work ethic in his kids. He was wicked handy and could build anything from a wood stove to a mountain chalet and everything in between.
When he wasn’t working hard, he enjoyed playing card games such as cribbage and Oh Hell as well as physical games such as horseshoes, checkers and 8-ball on his billiard table. He also enjoyed camping, traveling cross country, canoeing, snowmobiling, 4-wheeling, eating seafood, cooking, and most of all spending time with his family and friends. He was a member of Sacopee Valley Snow Drifters Club for some time. His love of socializing and owning his business resulted in many, many parties and cookouts that he really enjoyed hosting. Above all he supported his family, whether it be his beloved daughters or grandchildren. He was always there to lend a hand and was only a phone call away to help fix any problem. He was so happy to have found the love of his life, Ellen Murphy, and thoroughly enjoyed her company and companionship during the last several years of his life. They made many happy memories together.
He was predeceased by his brother, Elwood Day, and his daughter, Susan Hilton. He leaves behind his sister, Theresa Sturgeon, two beloved daughters, Ellen Faulkner and her husband Stephen, and Karen James and husband Dennis, his son James Day and his wife Lori, his grandchildren Jennifer, Justin, Rachael, Stephen, Evan, Audrey and his 14 great grandchildren.
A celebration of life and burial service will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 10 am at Riverside Cemetery, Cornish, Maine. His family appreciates the services of Sacopee Valley Rescue and State Police Officers Saunders and Doughty for helping us through a difficult day. Special thanks to Poitras, Neal and York Funeral Home for their support and handling of our father’s final wishes.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, Cornish, www.mainefuneral.com