Rachel Day

Kerrville Rachel Elliott Pressly Day died peacefully at home in Kerrville under Peterson Hospice care on Tuesday, July 7, 2009.

Rachel was born April 19, 1922 in Tampa, Florida to The Rev. Henry E. and Mary Bradley Pressly, Presbyterian missionaries to Mexico. The family lived in Valles, Tampico, and Cuernavaca, Mexico. Her education included schools in Mexico, followed by high school in Due West, South Carolina, and then the University of Texas.

She married Clyde W. Day on October 6, 1943, who was serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II. To this union were born four children: Neill, Margaret, Henry, and Elizabeth. Rachel was a devoted wife and mother. In Kingsville, Texas, she did much volunteer work for her church and the community as a Cub Scout den mother, Camp Fire Girl leader, Pink Lady at the hospital, and church teacher and youth group sponsor.

Rachel later taught school for twenty years, as a bilingual Kindergarten teacher of underprivileged children in Houston.

She and Clyde moved to Kerrville in retirement, where she remained active in church, serving as Elder, Stephen Minister, Enabler for Presbyterian Women of the Hill Country Cluster of Mission Presbytery, Chair of Annuities and Relief for the Synod of the Sun. She tutored children after school, visited shutins, was a volunteer of the Heart of the Hills Hospice, and called every member of her church on their birthdays. She was a strong professional educator, and a member and leader in the American Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma International Women Teachers Organization, and Texas Retired Teachers Association.

Rachel Day is survived by her husband of 65 years, Clyde W. Day of Kerrville her children Neill W. Day of Kerrville, Margaret R. Day of Tehuacana, Henry P. Day and wife Vicki of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Elizabeth B. Day of Austin. Her grandchildren include Rebecca Day, Lawrence Koenig and wife Kerri, May Koenig, Jennifer Day and husband James Cameron, Geoffrey Day, Rachel Holan, and Samuel Holan.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate her life on Monday, July 13, at 2:00 P.M. at the First Presbyterian Church of Kerrville.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorials be sent to the Mary B. and Henry E. Pressly Scholarship Fund at the Austin Presbyterian Seminary, to the Peterson Hospice, or to the charity of choice.

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