Obituary of Clayton Granville Daye

It is with heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our dear father Clayton G. Daye on August 27, 2023, at the Saint John Regional Hospital. He was born in Chipman to loving parents, the late Fred and Pauline (Granville) Daye on August 22, 1933.

Clayton grew up on the Salmon River with brothers Garnett and Roly. Garnett, being the older and wiser, had more the father role. Roly and Clayton, closer in age, shared their love of hockey and ball, but worked as well in gardens and various chores on farms. Clayton mastered boat building by age 15, initiating a lifelong joy of boating. He was a hardworking man, and had a passion for life; personable, determined, driven, competitive, and forever charitable. If anything needed to be done, Clayton was your man! 

Clayton was a loving and affectionate husband and father, as well as a second father to many. After marrying the "Love of his Life" Jeanetta, and starting a family, he moved to the port city in 1957.  Starting out, he managed service stations, then moving to auto body, eventually opening Daye's Autobody, a thriving business with many satisfied customers. Although in later years, he enjoyed 'The Valley', he always felt Saint John was good to him.

Clayton and Jeanetta had a full life. He was "tickled pink" Jeanetta enjoyed snowmobiling which would see them tour the province and beyond. They built new relationships, and these friendships grew with wonderful times on Kedron Lake and eventually more good times with friends and family at the cottage at the Mill Cove on Grand Lake. Recently, Clayton celebrated a joyous occasion of his 90^th birthday, surrounded by friends and family at the Lake.

Clayton was a bonafide 'sports nut'. He was one of the original players of the Ken Gents hockey team,  (even fundraising a hockey tournament to Denmark), where he cultivated wonderful relationships with lifelong friends. In later years he enjoyed public skating (although missed his hockey stick) and was always an avid sportsman, watching his beloved Leafs lose another game. Clayton was a proud Plasma Donor, making over 300 donations. He was also a former member of the East Riverside Golf Club and of the KV Old Boys.

Clayton is survived by; his brother Roly (friend Marie) children; son Danny (Judy Williston), daughters; Jocelyn (Wayne Burnside) Daye and Cathy (Randy) Mersereau, grandchildren; Shelley (Chris), Scott (Jill), Layla, and Danen, great grandchildren; Jakob, Corbin, Brandi, Linkin, Meadow, Fjord, and Marsh; and great- great grandchild Daxon. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Jeanetta (Hetherington), his brother Garnett (Mildred), and infant brother Ralph, and sister- in- law, Marjorie.

Special thanks to the Nursing Staff on 3CS for their kind and compassionate care of Clayton. Thank you as well to Dr. Whalen and Dr. Andreani for their thoughtful care through his declining health.

A private interment for family and close friends will take place in Chipman at the Baptist Cemetery on Maple St. on Monday, September 4th at 1PM. There will be a Celebration of Life at the Kennebecasis Funeral Home, 152 Pettingill Rd. Quispamsis on Saturday, September 30th from 2 – 5PM.  Donations may be made to the SJRH Foundation, the NB Lung Association, Prostate Cancer Canada, or charity of your choice.