Robert Marion Day obituary
Transcribed and submitted for the LA GenWeb Archives by Yvonne Arabie, May, 2009.

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The Rayne Tribune  Front Page   April 12, 1946

Services Held For Robert M. Day

Funeral services for Robert Marion Day, 20, son of Rev. and Mrs. E.W. Day, 
who was killed near Yuma, Arizona last Sunday night when the motorcycle he 
was riding was struck head on by a car as the driver swung into the left lane 
of traffic attempting to pass another car, were held here Sunday morning 
at 9 a.m. from the Methodist church where the body had been held in state 
following its arrival Saturday afternoon from Yuma.

 Dr. Guy M. Hicks, District Superintendent, Lake Charles, and Rev. W.H. Giles, 
 pastor of the Lafayette Methodist church officiated during the services which 
 were widely attended.  The altar of the church was blanked with beautiful 
 floral offerings, and throughout the hours preceding the services, the 
 flag-draped casket lay against this background, with the American flag and 
 American Legion flag flanking either side of the altar.

 Members of the Arceneaux Post No. 77 met the train with the family and friends 
 Saturday afternoon, served as an escort to the church, maintained a Guard of 
 Honor during the entire night, then attended services in a body Sunday morning.

 During the morning services, Doctor Hicks and Reverend Giles paid beautiful 
 tribute to the memory of the young man whose life was so suddenly claimed in 
 tragic death.  One of the most impressive portions of the entire service were 
 the reading of a group of poems and writings which Robert had composed when he 
 was between the years of 14 and 18, and which indicated the true beauty and 
 depth of his character and beliefs.

 Members of the Methodist choir sang several favorite hymns, including 
 “Till We Meet Again,” “Abide With Me,” while Reverend Martin, Houma, sang a 
 solo “When They Ring the Golden Bells for You and Me.”

 At the close of the services, the funeral cortege formed and continued to 
 Monore, La. Where interment followed in the River View cemetery.  Joining for 
 the last service at the grave were the American Legion at Monroe also assisted 
 with the final ceremony, and a bugler from the Legion sounded “Taps” as the 
 casket was being lowered into its final resting place.

 A large group from Rayne accompanied Rev. and Mrs. Day and the family to 
 Monore, returning home the same night.

 Pallbearers included the three brothers, Ernest, Cecil and Henry Day, Bobby Craig, 
 Harry Lee Stagg, and Conerly Estes, Jr.  In addition, those named honorary 
 pallbearers were Billy Lee Frye, U.S. Navy, Ringgold; Jack Campbell, U.S. Navy, 
 Ringgold; Robert N. Pettit, U.S. Navy, North Carolina; Claude McMichael, 
 U.S. Navy, Marion Leah, U.S. Navy, Ringgold, and Bobby Robinson, 
 U.S. Navy, Gibsland.

 The Gossen Funeral Home of Rayne directed arrangements and the trip to 
 Monroe was made by a Gossen Funeral coach.

 Young Day had been in the Pacific for over two years, and during that entire 
 time, his family had not seen him.  They were anxiously looking forward to 
 his return home, and knew that he was en route to the states, but did not 
 know that he had arrived, apparently meaning to surprise his family.  Robert 
 purchased a motorcycle to make the trip home, attended to all the necessary 
 details of insurance, travelers’ checks and other business matters, then left 
 California to come home by motor, thinking to save time, and to reach his 
 family quicker.

After he left Yuma, he was proceeding along the highway later Sunday night when 
he was struck, according to accounts sent the family, by a car which had pulled 
out to the left side of the road, traveling at a rapid rate of speed, as it 
attempted to pass another car.  He was not thrown from the motor, but was 
killed instantly by the impact of the collision.

Robert was to have received his discharge in New Orleans on May 2 of this year, 
and had planned to visit his family here briefly, then continue onto New Orleans 
to the Separation Center for his official discharge.

A fine, Christian youth, Robert was an outstanding young man – with much promise 
for the future in his artistic ability, his inclination toward writing, and his 
deep thinking, all of which evidenced the sincerity of his character and his 
devotion to the principles of right and good.  Many requests have been received 
for copies of his poems and writings which were read at the funeral services 
Sunday, and Tribune will reprint these in next week’s edition for all who would 
like to have them as beautiful keepsakes, in his memory.

Words are indeed difficult when we attempt to express our sympathy to a father 
and mother – to brothers and to a sister, who have been called upon to give up 
such a precious treasure, but we know the consolation and comfort they have 
drawn from Robert’s own words – speaking with a voice which reaches past the 
confines of the grave to say to them that he was prepared for and resigned to 
whatever God had in store for him.  They are fortunate indeed, to have such 
treasured mementoes of their darling son, and we reprint one of the last poems 
he wrote as a true sentiment of his own belief:

“Tis Then I find a Rest Serene”

Ere twilight has fallen and day is done
And the stars twinkle like coals aglow
Tis then I turn my weary Soul
A rest to find, to Thee I Go.
I forget the cares of a war torn world
I find my peace ever serene
I dream of a home up in the clouds
Where pastures are so ever And when I reach the final stage
And carried away in the clouds of Eternity
Tis then I’ll say, Tis Better to Love Than have sin stains upon me.

Robert Day