William "Bill" Martin Day, of Harrisonville, Missouri was born December 22, 1920 in Dexter, Missouri the son of Cecil Leroy and Katherine Pauline (Kleffer) Day. He departed this life on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at the Crown Care Center, Harrisonville surrounded by love and family at the age of 95 years, 8 months and 5 days.

Bill grew up in rural Stoddard County near Dexter and came to love agriculture. Following graduation from Dexter High School in 1939, he attended the University of Missouri. He also taught rural school in 1941-42 at Garner School near Dexter. He graduated from MU with a bachelor's degree in Agriculture in 1943 and a master's degree in Education in 1953.

He met Verda Bernice Peterson his final year at the university. They had a whirlwind courtship and married on September 2, 1943. There was a wedding shower on the 4th, and Bill reported to his first job as a vocational agriculture teacher at Advance, Missouri on the 5th. That was followed by two years teaching at Washington, Missouri and then on to teaching vocational agriculture in Harrisonville beginning in 1948. He also farmed near East Lynne, Missouri before moving to Harrisonville in 1950. Following his retirement from teaching in 1967, Bill had a very successful second career selling insurance for Farm Bureau Insurance Company and as Agency Manager in Harrisonville for over 20 years.

Bill was a member of the Harrisonville United Methodist Church and taught Sunday School for many years. He was also a member of the Harrisonville Lions Club since 1955 and Past President, Cass County Republican Committee and Club, member and Past President of the Missouri Vocational Agricultures Teachers Association. Bill enjoyed many hobbies over the years. They included hunting, fishing, and camping with his family; playing softball, which he did until his 80's, gardening; and taking part in Volkswalks with Verda, which they did in all 50 states.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Lori Day; a brother, C. LeRoy Day and a sister, Clarabelle Coulter.

Bill is survived by his wife of nearly 73 years, Verda Day; 4 sons, Russell (Ann) of Cumming, Georgia, David (Karen) of Boonville, Missouri, Steven (Vicki) of Shawnee, Kansas and Alvin (Dixie) of Ames, Iowa; 8 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; a sister Katherine Day, Wilmington, North Carolina; other relatives and many close friends.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, September 1, 2016 at the United Methodist Church, Harrisonville, Missouri with burial in the Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville.

Family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri.

Family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Harrisonville United Methodist Church or to the Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation.