James Raymond “Jim” Day Sr., 86, Aberdeen resident and owner of James Day Trucking, died Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019, at Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen, Washington.

James was born on Jan. 11, 1933, at Bloomington, Illinois, to George Jerome and Lucreitia Derringer Day. He graduated high school in Bloomington and joined the U.S. Army in 1951 and served in the Korean Conflict. Following his honorable discharge , he moved to Poulsbo, Washington, to live with his sister Bernice. It was while working there that he met and fell in love with Gloria Waldroop. They were married on Oct. 1, 1960, in Poulsbo, Washington. Forty years later they divorced but remained friends to this day.

In 1966, Jim got a job helping dredge Grays Harbor and moved his family to Cosmopolis and then later to Aberdeen.

In the early ‘70s, Jim started his trucking company, James Day Trucking and helped out on the nuke plant and driving log truck. He retired in 1998. He enjoyed driving truck, fishing, clam digging and — following retirement — he enjoyed chauffeuring his grandkids to school and home each day.

Jim is survived by two sons, James Day Jr. of Aberdeen and Jason Day of Steilacoom, Washington; two daughters, Julie (Phillip) Reed of Rochester, Washington and Kelly (Tony) Cooper of Aberdeen; grandchildren, Lacie (Chuck) Jenkins, Jerrad Lacey, Kati Lacey, Shay Grigsby Jr., Ricky (Chelsie) McKinney, Brit (Brad) Frafjord, Savannah Day, Terry Day, Jacob Cooper; step-grandchildren, Brandon Oatfield, Jonell Jawwo, Melissa Grigsby, Devin Reed, Heather (Matt) Ericksen; 15 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by a son Terry Day in 1989, and nine siblings, Harold, Dareld, George (Bud), Jerry, Mollie, Alieen, Bernice (aka Georgia) and Emily Jean.

There will be a celebration of life held today, Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Cosi Lions Club starting at 6 p.m.. Inurnment will be held later at Fern Hill Cemetery in Aberdeen.

Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen.