Bessie Ramona Day

April 4, 1918 - February 4, 2010

Bessie Ramona Johnson Day was born April 4, 1918 in Newberg. Her father and mother were Frank and Maude Johnson. She grew up on a farm in the Chehalem Center area, North of Newberg, attending school where both of her grandmothers and her father attended. The family moved to Portland in 1929 where her father owned and operated a gasoline station and garage. She graduated from Jefferson High School in June of 1936. After which, she attended Reed College for one year on a one-half tuition scholarship. Bessie met Jesse H. Day in 1936 and they were married June1, 1938. During the summer of 1937 she worked in the kitchen at Lake Oswego Country Club but lost her job when the restaurant closed for the winter. She and Jessie both found themselves out of work. Bessie told him that if she got back to work first, he would have to go to college and get a degree. When the restaurant opened up again in the spring. she was called back to work, so Jesse took the exams and started classes at Reed College and graduated in August of 1942. They moved to Cleveland, Ohio where he attended Case Western Reserve university, to complete his Master's and PhD degrees. Bessie worked for The Family Allowance Division of the Navy where she was a working supervisor for about five years. Jessie became the Editor of the S.P.E. Journal with the Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc. Bessie helped him with the journal and they asked her to be the Executive Secretary in 1948. As soon as Jesse received his PhD degree, they moved to Athens, Ohio, where he taught chemistry at Ohio University and was later promoted to Chairman of the Chemistry Department. The Society of Plastic Engineers, Inc. let Bessie take the National office position with her, she retired in 1952. Bessie became very active in the university's faculty wives activities and was also initiated into the Sigma Kappa Sorority, Beta Upsilon Chapter. She became Treasurer ot the sorority house corporation and later advanced to both Treasurer and President. She worked for them for 26 years. Bessie was also an artist and loved art. She joined The Friends of Trisolini Gallery, Inc. and became Treasurer of the Gallery Shop. She moved back to Oregon in 1990 after Jesse died the previous year. She lived in the Louvonne area of Charbonneau in Wilsonville until her eye- sight deteriorated and she moved into SpringRidge at Charvonneau in 1999. Her sisters Carol Lorrane Jones, Jeanette johnson and a sister-in-law Bette Day survive Bessie. She has three nephews, one nephew-in-law, six nieces and severAl grand nephews and nieces. A memorial service will be held on Monday, February 15, 2010 at Attrell's Newberg Funeral Chapel, arrangements under the the direction of Attrell's Funeral Services, Newberg, 503-538-2191