Nolan Day

Nolan Day (Son of Larry Day) Aiken, SC—Lawrence Nolan Day, III passed away peacefully asleep with his family and friends around him Sunday, August 16, 2015. The funeral service will be conducted from St. John’s United Methodist Church Faith Center Friday morning at 11 o’clock. Dr. Tim McLendon officiating. A luncheon reception with the family will follow in the Fellowship Hall. The burial will follow at the Graniteville Cemetery near his dear, sweet Mother, Deane, and his best friend and Grandmother, Mama Grace. They will all be together and see each other again. Nolan was born in Columbia, South Carolina, March 30, 1962. From ages two to nine, the family lived in Rock Hill until his Dad was transferred to Aiken. Good, happy years he enjoyed in all places - boating, fishing, camping in the mountains and beaches, shrimping, caring for and riding his horses and motorbike. Many weekends he and friends would go to a deer hunting club with his Dad. He always had dogs he loved, as many as four at a time. He was a tough kid which helped prepare him for a very tough life, beginning one month out of high school. A swimming accident at Gem Lake broke his neck and he was a quadriplegic until his death at age 53. He tackled being a quadriplegic with gusto, learning every way possible from occupational therapists to make his body move, which enabled him to do some of the things we do every day and take for granted. He chose not to go to a nursing home, rather built his home and lived alone. Doctors, nurses, family and friends could not believe he could do it. He bought a used van with a side door hydraulic lift and had it equipped with special equipment so he could drive it. He did the same with a golf cart so that he could roam his eleven acres and the neighborhood, loving the horses there. Nolan built himself a nice life as a quadriplegic until cancer caused his bladder to be removed January, 2015. He was weak since the operation and struggled to transfer from his wheelchair. Shortly after his daily five weeks of radium treatments, cancer struck again in a big way and nothing could be done. His intestines were locked down by the cancer. He could not digest anything and could only have water and ice until his death. His life has been an inspiration to everyone seeing or hearing about how he survived the thirty-four years. Survivors include his father, Larry Day and his wonderful, adoring sister, Tina Kiyfes (who has not left his side in both surgeries) and her husband, Andy of The Woodlands, Texas; his stepmother, Sheila Day and her two daughters who are his stepsisters, Brenda Carter, Augusta and Teresa Grimm and her husband, David, Martinez. Primarily because his loving mother, Deane, was one of fifteen children, he has a multitude of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Honorary Pallbearers will be The Fellowship Class of St. John’s United Methodist Church. Active Pallbearers will be Paul Flanagan, Pat Polk, Scotty Moore, John Vaught, Steve Johnson and Jimmy Golden. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to St. John’s United Methodist Building Fund, 104 Newberry Street NW, Aiken, SC 29801. Posey Funeral Directors of North Augusta in charge of arrangements, (803-278-1181). Visit the registry online at www.poseycares.com

Tributes

Nolan Day

March 30, 1962 - August 16, 2015