Florence Josephine Day

Born July 11, 1924 to Bernerd T. Buckles and Rachel Olive McGrath. Died February 13, 2017. Preceded in death by parents, husband, Elbert L. Day, son, Terry B. Day, brother Eddie, and sisters Geraldine Rosvall and Shirley Foote.

Survived by her beloved daughter, Judie Kinghorn, cherished grandchildren: Kirstin, Kiffanie, Karina (Rich Morgart), Kennedy Kinghorn and great grandson, Joseph Kinghorn Tracy. The passing of this strong and valiant woman means another of the few remaining Silent Heroes of the Greatest Generation has slipped away.  
Josephine had a difficult childhood. It was during the Great Depression and her Dad was an Irish rogue. Their financial resources were scarce, daily life was a struggle.  Even so, Josephine was a straight "A" student and graduated high school at age 16.  

She took on the job of gathering food and earning money at a very young age to help her mother support the family. While working at the ice cream parlor/milk depot, she met a big, strapping farm boy who came in wearing striped bib overalls.  He was like no other guy she had ever met. One time he roller skated from the farm in Bountiful to tease her at the store. They dated and had many crazy adventures but the fun and freedom was short lived. This unique suitor went from farm boy to soldier when he enlisted in the Army – WWII. They were married a short time before he was deployed.  

In 1945 Josephine welcomed home her newlywed sweetheart from the battlefields of Europe with his five purple hearts and 100% disability rating.  Elbert had to learn to walk, talk, and struggled to do anything, but together with Josephine's constant care and steadfast support he was able to farm, train horses, and work for the police department, and do many other things. Together they had a difficult but productive life. They were told that because of his injuries he might live two years, but with their united determination, he lived 63 years making 66 years together.  Josephine's silent grief became nearly unbearable when her only son Terry was killed in Viet Nam in 1968.

The Silent Heroes are the women who serve with honor and ultimate sacrifice for country and wounded warriors.  All is given without honors, awards, or recognition. One wonders where such strength and valor comes from…only God knows. Those who knew our "Wild Irish Rose" knew her strength came from being an Irish woman, her work ethic, her strong spirit and connection to God. Also, her love of family and clan all helped her through.

Josephine's beautiful soprano voice helped get herself and others through hard times. She sang with dance bands, choirs, and at weddings, funerals, even divorces. She dedicated one night a week for 30 years to sing at the V.A. hospital psychiatric ward social/coffee hour. Her repertoire included High Holy Songs, pop songs of the day and many love songs, but best of all were Irish folk and drinking songs. She could bring a room to tears or laughter with her songs. Dancing, of course was another of her great loves and thankfully continued through her genetic line as well as her love for singing. She loved Halloween making fantastic costumes for herself and her grandchildren.

She taught the boy scouts for fifteen years as well as being active in many church positions and community civic projects i.e. Kris Kringle, Sub for Santa for 20-30 families for many Christmases.

Our Irish Lass was Irish to the bone. Besides her sharp green smiling eyes and shocking red hair, she had a scar on her arm from her small pox vaccination that had healed into the shape of a shamrock.

 
She possessed so many talents and amazing qualities. What a brilliant mind! She worked as a scientific researcher, she was a stellar bookkeeper, money manager and business whiz. She was a 'need to be' exacting carpenter, painter, roofer, wall paper hanger. Excellent Irish cook. Beautiful steam-stress. She could sew up a wounded horse like a plastic surgeon – no scars!
She possessed a magic trait called 'initiative'.  "If something needs to be done, do it".

Josephine was extremely tender hearted, always humble and full of gratitude. To her, ingratitude was the greatest sin.  Dedicated, exceptional daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.

The shock, sadness and void of her passing have not really begun to be realized. Seeing her empty chair at the table, knowing she is not on her bed napping will take a very long time to adjust. Our gratitude to God for having her as our clan matriarch cannot be measured.
Services will be held on Wednesday, February, 22, 2017 at 2:00 p.m., with a visitation one hour prior to services at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah.