William Edward "Bill" Day

December 22, 1933 - January 15, 2022

Bill’s mortal journey of 88 years ended on January 15, 2022, and we are greatly saddened. His humor is irreplaceable. His rustic charm, bright white smile, never-ending story-telling, and abundant love benefited all who crossed his path. Bill was the tenth child of George and Pearl Heiner who raised their eleven children on a farm in southern Idaho near the small town of Oakley. He lived a Tom Sawyer-type-of-life filled with delight and despair. He slept with the cows to keep warm on cold nights, climbed trees to discover every magpie nest, cared for prized pet pigs, rode a horse bareback to school, and then lost both parents in his youth. Bill lived with his grandfather in his historic home during his teen-aged years. He gained the affection of the town darling, Joan Clark, who was taken by his Hollywood good looks, charisma, and athleticism. The couple grew up together surrounded by lanes of poplars and potato fields with the love and adoration of dear friends and family members. He bucked 80-pound sacks of potatoes, worked for a pig farmer, and was an impressive beet thinner. He shot hundreds of jack rabbits on infested farms which were sold to mink farmers for 10 cents each, yielding ten dollars each day, which was just enough to purchase more shells and a tank of gas. He boxed the town bullies in the church basement and then picked up Joan in his green coupe to go “sparking” on Lover’s Lane. His fame as an Oakley Hornet included gaining yards as a running back, shooting hoops from every angle, and throwing the shot put record distances. Because of his exceptional strength and finesse, he was recruited to box for Idaho State University. Bill and Joan’s marriage of nearly 64 years began shortly after high school graduation and played out in Utah Valley. He volunteered for service in the Army to serve in Fort Bragg, North Carolina as a paratrooper and was selected to participate on the local Army boxing team. While studying geology at BYU, Bill discovered his love of stone. This led him to become a highly regarded stone mason. Bill and Joan were involved in the establishment of Joan’s family business, Clark’s in Provo, where Bill did beautiful stonework. He adorned the Clark Cabin at Sundance with red sandstone from top to bottom and the family spent many happy family reunions in front of roaring fires. Bill joined his brother and nephew in an adventurous endeavor to grow and sell raspberries. He very willingly served as the stake athletic director for many years and could be found nearly nightly in the church gym where he organized tournaments and entertained with his infamous smiling hook-shot. He enjoyed the years he served as bishop in a BYU student ward with Joan by his side selflessly serving, loving, and laughing. They raised their four children, two boys and two girls, in their small cape cod and cobble stone home on a peaceful street in south Orem. Bill worked hard and played hard at golfing, playing basketball, camping, hunting, and fishing with beloved friends and sons. Scout trip meal plans included only a frying pan and a fishing pole while riding bicycles on the White Rim Trail. He hired his sons, grandsons, and many fortunate young men who learned to work hard from sun-up to sun-down gathering stone and procuring rattlesnake, cotton-tail, and sage grouse meals with a 20-gauge shotgun. Bill and his fishing crew could be glimpsed through the early morning lake fog intently baiting hooks and building relationships. Whether catching nearly 100 fish or getting skunked, those in his boat felt very fortunate to be there. His lovingly bestowed nicknames, hilarious jokes, deep doctrinal insights, and words of wisdom will be etched in our hearts and minds forever. Bill truly made the world a more beautiful place. His grand stone artistry adorns churches, government buildings, lodges, cabins, and private homes in many states and can be identified by his impeccable design and perfectly even joints. Amazingly, Bill survived being run over by his truck while gathering stone alone in the Idaho mountains. He spent many years commuting daily to central Utah where he quarried beautiful creamy white limestone which he saw-cut and shipped to many locations across the country. Perhaps his greatest life achievement was his work as the stone contractor for the Manti Temple renovation as his hand-chiseled stones were masterfully blended into the 19th-century craftsmanship. In his later years, Bill spent many contented hours on his forklift at his Stoneyard selling stone, loading pallets, and creating friendships. He cherished watching Westerns, visits with grandchildren, and friendly phone calls to hear fishing reports or news of BYU sports while being watched over by adoring neighbors bearing bananas, a roast beef dinner, or a hamburger with a strawberry shake. Bill was greeted on the other side by his wife Joan, his parents, and his ten siblings. He will be watching over his four children William Douglas (Wendie), Dianne Halloran, Charles Dennis (Robyn), Debra (Robert) Hogan, 13 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Bill’s Life Celebration will be held at the Cherry Hill First Ward at 1700 South 400 East in Orem with a Viewing from 11:00 to 12:00 am and a Funeral Service to follow at 12:30 pm. Bill will be laid to rest with military honors next to his dear Joanie at East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery in Provo. The Funeral Service may be attended in-person or viewed through live stream with this link: https://youtu.be/iWpKVcbWh-U