Richard Day

Richard E. "Dick" Day died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of September 17, 2014 at the home he shared with his wife Evelyn in Casper, WY. Dick was born on August 23, 1933 to Erwin and Viola Day in Casper and was the youngest of four children. He was raised at 932 S. David Street and attended Park Elementary, Dean Morgan Junior High, and graduated from Natrona County High School in 1951. At the age of seventeen Dick enlisted in the United States Navy, served on the U.S.S. Lyman K. Swenson during the Korean War, and was honorably discharged on June 23, 1954. He was a proud member of the Casper Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9439. Dick received a Bachelor of Science in Law with a major in Geology from the University of Wyoming in 1958. In 1960, he received a Juris Doctorate degree from University of Wyoming College of Law. While an undergraduate, Dick met Evelyn Reid from Scotland who was visiting her sister in Denver. Dick and Evelyn were married in Denver, Colorado on June 7, 1958 and spent 56 years together until Dick's death. They raised their two children Stuart and Laurie in Casper. Dick was admitted to practice as a member of the Wyoming State Bar in 1961, the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming in 1964, the United States Supreme Court in 1971 and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in 1976. He worked for Tennessee Oil and Gas Company after graduation from law school, living in Colorado, Mississippi and Texas until 1963 when he was appointed as Special Assistant Attorney General in Cheyenne. After several years Dick returned to Casper, started a solo practice, then joined Wherli and Williams. In 1979, he was a founding member of the firm of Williams, Porter, Day and Neville, P.C. Dick received an AV rating from Martindale Hubell and has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America since 1987 and in Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business. He was past President of the Natrona County Bar Association, the Wyoming Bar Association, as well as served on many bar association committees over the years. Nationally, he was a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a fellow as well as a past President of the International Society of Barristers. Dick was considered not only a preeminent attorney and leader in his profession by his peers but also as a leader in his community who work for the betterment of Casper and the State of Wyoming. In his later years, Dick was a mentor to any lawyer who would ask his advice or seek his counsel. He was always encouraging his colleagues to share their gifts, and their resources, with the community. Casper College was one of Dick's favorite clients. He was a compassionate soul and an avid supporter of various causes including member and past President of the Casper Kiwanis Club, the United Way Board, and the Casper Board of Public Utilities. He volunteered for the Casper Boy Scouts and Midget Football. Most recently, he was a member of the Natrona County Public Library Foundation Board, the National Historic Trails Interpretative Center Foundation in Casper and the Three Trails Rotary Club. Dick was the grandson of Natrona County pioneers Mr. A.J. Mokler, who founded the Natrona County Tribune which later became the Casper Star Tribune and who authored the History of Natrona County 1882-1922 and other books of Wyoming history. He coordinated the donation of many of his family's historical documents and photographs of Casper and greater Wyoming to Casper College. Dick loved Wyoming. Jackson was a favorite place of his where he could ski at Teton Village or Targhee, bike the Moran to Moose trail in the Spring, eat breakfast at Nora's or just sit on the back porch of their condominium at the Aspens and watch the Tetons and the perhaps a visiting moose. He loved Laramie and an enthusiastic supporter of the University of Wyoming and the Cowboys. Dick was a dedicated member of the University of Wyoming Alumni Association and the Cowboy Joe Club. He loved Casper where he has lived in many of the neighborhoods. Lately you could find him relaxing on his back porch that faces Casper Mountain and has one of the best views of sunset. Dick also loved to travel, see new places and meet new people. One of his favorite places was Hawaii. He also enjoyed other parts of the US, the Caribbean, Mexico, Scotland, Ireland, and parts of Europe. He was a scuba diver and enjoyed his trip to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia as well as kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland. Dick was preceded in death by his parents Erwin and Viola Day, his brother Bill and his sisters Marjorie and Francis. He will be sorely missed by his wife Evelyn, his son Stuart and daughter in law TimAnn of Casper, his daughter Laurie Ann Rocke and son in law Marshall, of New York City, his grandchildren Shelby Brown and her husband Chris Brown of Cheyenne, Erica Day and her fiancé Arik Smith of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Jackson Rocke and Samantha Rocke of New York City, and his two great grandchildren Ryder and Owen Brown of Cheyenne, as well as his many beloved nieces, nephews and close friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Dick's name to the Casper College Foundation, the Natrona County Library Foundation or the National Historic Trails Interpretative Center Foundation in Casper. A Rosary will be held at Bustard's Funeral Home on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 6 p.m. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at St. Anthony's Catholic Church at 11:00 am on Friday, September 26, 2014. Interment will immediately follow at the Oregon Trail Veteran's Cemetery.

Service

Friday, September 26, 2014 11:00am

St. Anthony's Catholic Church

7th and Center

Casper, Wyoming 82601

Visitation

Thursday, September 25, 2014 6:00pm

Bustard's Funeral Home

600 CY Avenue

Casper, Wyoming 82601