Paul Leon Day

Paul Leon Day, 86, of Fort Gibson passed from this life to the next on Monday, April 29, 2019. He was a precision machinist who started as a soda jerk, antenna installer, race car pit crewman, jewelry manufacturer, business owner, and teacher. He was a beloved family man and devoted man of God. Paul was born at home in Tulsa, Oklahoma and spent his childhood in the green country area. He lived in poverty and spent a few years residing in a box car with his family. The box car was destroyed in a tornado in 1945, but the whole family survived. Paul went on to complete high school at Muskogee Central High School spending many of his classes learning drafting, machine shop and auto mechanics. In 1972 he started his own business doing precision machining. He retired five times but continued to do specialized machining in his spare time until his death. Paul spent much of his free time camping, fishing, hunting, traveling and spending time with his friends and family. He was generous and loving to friends and strangers alike. He was known for being able to build anything from bird houses to rolling chair racks for church. He was a jokester and loved to laugh, often building things as gifts that were practical jokes. He will be deeply missed by everyone who met him. He is preceded in death by his parents, James Lee Floyd Day and Ollie Maybell (Vanzant) Day, sister Hazel, brother Junior Floyd Day, and son, James Russell Day. Paul is survived by his wife, Telitha; his sister, Ruth Narramore; daughter, Tammy Bowers and her husband Peter; daughter-in-law, Annette Day; six grandchildren and their spouses, and 16 great-grandchildren and one on the way. A viewing will be held Friday, May 3, 2019 at Clifford D Garrett Family Funeral Home in Fort Gibson from 1PM-7PM with family receiving friends 5PM-7PM. A service celebrating Paul’s life will be 11AM Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Fort Gibson Church of Christ with Minister Dan Rouse and Elder Budo Perry officiating. Interment will be in Citizens Cemetery in Fort Gibson, OK with David Bowers, Adam Day, Daniel Bowers, Eric Day, Derek Bowers and Benjamin Matlock serving as casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers will be Peter Bowers, Jack Briley, John Burdine, Lyle Kirkwood, John Lathrope, Art Smith, Randy Tibbles and Randy Wilson. In lieu of flowers, family request donations in Paul’s name to Burnt Cabin Building Fund, or Mission Fund c/o Fort Gibson Church of Christ, 806 South Lee, Fort Gibson, OK 74434 or the Cystic Fibrosis Fund @ http://fightcf.cff.org/site/TR?px=3567848&fr_id=7302&pg=personal The family of Paul Leon Day has entrusted his care, services and burial to Clifford D Garrett Family Funeral Home, Fort Gibson. 918-478-2555. Online condolences may be left at clifforddgarrettfamilyfh.com

Paul Leon Day

April 18, 1933 - April 29, 2019