Royce Joselyn Day

Royce J. Day, 92, passed away September 7, 2026, surrounded by his loving family after a long decline in his health.

Born May 19, 1934, the son of Clarence L. Day and Dorothy Helen (Gilbert) Day, the lifelong resident of Bangor was delivered at home on Lincoln Street by Dr. Leonard Ford, the public health physician.

These past several months, Royce missed his wife Bunny, born Martha E. Estabrook, who passed away October 6, 2025, at the age of 89. They were married July 14, 1956, and with their daughter AnnMarie, compiled a lifetime of memories in Bangor.

Royce was fond of telling stories that illustrated Bunny's pluck. In one she was challenged by the 1956 Chevrolet Royce bought when they started their lives together. With the call stalled at the intersection of Cumberland and Center Streets, she left the car, walked to a car dealership, engaged an employee, and returned to drive off with his help.

In their 5th wheel trailer hitched to their three-quarter ton Ford truck, Royce and Bunny spent many summer days camping with friends at Lamoine State Park, Chemo Pond in Clifton, Camden State Park, and on occasion, Clearwater Beach in Florida.

Longtime members of the Eddington Salmon Club, they were fixtures at the hunters' breakfasts with Royce famously handling the biscuits. He served as treasurer of the organization from the late 1980s to 2019.

Growing up, Royce attended Abraham Lincoln School, Garland Street Junior High, and Bangor High School when it was located downtown next to the Bangor Public Library, graduating in 1952. With the permission of his parents his junior year, he joined the Army National Guard and over 38 years rose to the rank of First Sergeant. He said it was the best job he ever had, including the times his daughter slid off the roof of the Armory on Main Street into winter snow banks.

Royce was the beneficiary of a legacy of work and ambition handed down from his great grandparents, Elias and Joan Day, who settled a farm in Wesley, and their son, Herbert Lee Day, Royce's grandfather, who was born in April 1855, according to an article that ran in the Machias Valley News Observer.

Herbert Lee Day owned a small farm on Day Hill in Wesley, built a blacksmith shop, and worked the woods with a yoke of oxen. His wife, Rebecca McRae, worked the farm and gave birth to five children. Together they built a shingle mill, with Herbert fashioning the ironwork and working parts. Among his innovations he created a bedspring and the machine that coiled it, obtaining a patent for them.

Royce's grandfather peddled his bedding wares from a buckboard in towns from Houlton to Ellsworth and finally ended up in Bangor where he built three factories, the last in 1910 on Front Street that produced bed springs and cot beds. He incorporated as H.L. Day, Sons & Co., more commonly known as Dayson Bedding.

Royce's father, Clarence L. Day, the treasurer of the bedding company, was also invested in other enterprises. He was president and treasurer of Farmer Supplies Inc. in Pickering Square, the farmers market of the day, where farmers marketed their products and bought tools and supplies. He was involved in real estate, owning dozens of apartments in the houses on both the east and west sides of Bangor, including Dayson Apartments on French Street

Clarence employed Royce in the farm and apartment businesses. He delivered coal for heat before oil heat dominated the local market. He developed skills in carpentry, plumbing, tiling and other handiwork that he made use of building several Habitat for Humanity houses with his friend Robinson "Robbie" Speirs, whose family owned Bacon and Robinson, a coal and oil heating company.

An inveterate walker, Royce daily frequented the sidewalks of Bangor on his way to the Blue Dot Café at All Souls Congregational Church, the Catholic member of the group that gathered on weekdays for over thirty years for coffee, snacks, and conversation about how to solve the world's problems often in the company of Robbie, Cliff Eames, and the Reverend Doctor Jim Haddix.

The Day family owned a farm in south Orrington where they kept a garden, raised chickens, and feasted regularly, traditions that in later years moved to AnneMarie and her husband, David Messer's house. There Bunny occupied a corner of the kitchen, her arms folded, a sparkle in her eyes, a timely remark on her lips, exuding the warmth of her love, and now in our imaginations, she is joined by Royce, happily reunited with her.

Royce was predeceased by his parents and his brothers, Clarence L. Day Jr. and Herbert C. Day. He is survived by his daughter, AnneMarie (David Messer) of Bangor; granddaughter, Angella Day Messer; grandsons, Derek Messer (Brandy) of Brewer and Seth Messer; great-grandchildren, Peter Messer and Austin, Taylor, and Ryan Messer; nieces, Carole Dowling Bennett (Mike); Taylor Dowling, Kristen Dowling, Ava and Logan Dowling.

The family sends its appreciation to the many people who provided kind and compassionate care to Royce throughout his life and decline, especially Dr. Kerry Riker and medical assistant Michelle Keller of St. Joseph Healthcare, Bangor.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Food Bank, P.O. Box 1807, Auburn, ME 04211.