Charles Henry "Charlie" Day

If you’ve lived in Lincoln County long enough, you’ve probably heard the name Charlie Day. And if you hadn’t heard it, you might have felt the ripple of his work — a fire truck racing to save a barn, a cold drink from the tap thanks to a water district he helped start, the dust rising from the fairgrounds he once called pasture. For 93 years, Charlie’s life was stitched into the fabric of this community, leaving behind stories, friendships, and a legacy impossible to measure. Born August 31, 1931, in St. Charles, Missouri, to Lucien and Carrie (Dunlap) Day, Charlie grew up in a bustling farm family alongside five brothers and one sister. Life tested him early, he lost his mother and endured a partial hand amputation in a hay baling accident, as a young child. But grit was in his bones, and he refused to let hardship slow him down. After attending St. Charles schools and graduating from Franklin High School, Charlie’s life would lead him to Troy in 1949 to work for Clem Witte, tending cattle and baling hay for area farmers. That move would spark more than a career, Charlie met the love of his life Betty J. Shelton. He was united in marriage to Betty on August 30, 1952 at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Troy, Missouri and to this union three sons and one daughter were born. Charlie and his beloved wife, Betty — who were partners for 67 years — began hauling cattle on their own, eventually building Lazy Day Farms, a family-owned trucking company that hauled livestock across the country. Together, they also built and operated the Pike/Lincoln County Livestock Sale Barn for over 35 years, making it a hub for farmers far and wide. But Charlie’s impact reached far beyond the fences of his farm. In the early 1950s, Mayor Ray Lake handed Charlie $90 and asked him to serve on the Lincoln County Fire Board. With that modest start, Charlie helped the department grow — purchasing its first fire truck, building three firehouses, and later adding three more trucks to the fleet. When neighbors on Sydnorville Road needed water in 1966, Charlie opened his well to them, planting the seed for what would become Lincoln County Water District #2. Ten years later, that seed had grown into a system serving nearly 400 homes and businesses — a lifeline born from one man’s generosity. Charlie’s love for the county was perhaps most visible at the Lincoln County Fair. From his early days as a board member when the fair was still held at Troy City Park, to selling the board the very land it sits on today, Charlie made sure the fair had room to grow. As Fair Board Chairman in 1976, he was as committed to livestock auctions as he was to the thrill of greasy pig scrambles. His civic devotion didn’t stop there. Charlie was a faithful supporter of the Lincoln County Democrat Club, donating headquarters space, rallying for fundraisers, organizing blood drives, and in 2022 receiving the Lincoln County Lifetime Democrat Achievement Award for his decades of service. He also championed causes through Wesley United Methodist Church, the Methodist Men, the NAACP, Kiwanis, Meals on Wheels, and Youth in Need. Charlie was not a man who accepted “no” as the final answer. Whether it was collecting donations for a new Meals on Wheels van, raising funds for a community building, or solving a problem no one else could, he worked until the job was done. Even in his final days, he kept farming, helping, and planning — never content to simply sit still. Charlie is survived by his sons Gary (Tina) Day and Jeffrey (Ramona) Day; grandchildren Nathan (Tammy) Day, Rachel(Josiah) Meyer, Keith Henebry, Casey (Heather) Sharp, Abbie (Milton) Sharp, Trinity (Sierra) Sharp, Laura (Roy) Markert, Stephanie (Jacob) Tryon, and Lawrence (Amanda) Weitkamp; great-grandchildren Alyssa, Maddie, Blake, Jackson, Jayce, Jacob, Maggie, Taya, Q, Myles, Tatum, Emma, Griffin, Alex, Stanton, Ava, August, and Addie; He is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family members. A special thanks to his nieces Janet Morris and Angela Qualls for their helping hands. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; his son Sandy Day; his daughter Carmen Day-Wells; his grandson Robbie Day; his parents Lucien and Carrie Day; his brothers William “Bill” Day, Joseph Swan Day, Taylor Arnold Day, Eugene Day, Jesse Dunlap Day; his sister Frances Lucille Jackson; and grandparents Willis and Ellen Dunlap. Charlie will be remembered as a farmer, a builder, a neighbor, a father figure to many, and a legend in Lincoln County history. His life was proof that one person’s determination can build firehouses, bring water to hundreds, give a fair a home, and still have time to raise a family and help a neighbor in need. Family and friends will be received from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds located at 3 Fairgrounds Circle Troy, MO 63379. A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, 2025 at the Lincoln County Fair Grounds in Troy, MO. Burial will be at Troy City Cemetery in Troy, MO. After the burial, everyone will return to the fairgrounds hall to celebrate Charlie’s life and his birthday. His birthday was known to be one of his top favorite holidays to celebrate. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made to the Family of Charles Henry “Charlie” Day, in care of Kemper-Keim Family Funeral Chapel P.O. Box 222 Troy, MO 63379. In true Charlie Day fashion, the celebration will be casual — country or western attire encouraged, anything that shows your Lincoln County roots. Because that’s exactly how Charlie would want it — comfortable, welcoming, and filled with the people and place he loved.

Charles Henry "Charlie" Day

August 31, 1931 - August 7, 2025