Alicia Day

Alicia was second child and oldest daughter of James & Dorothy Stanton of Keokuk, Iowa. She was born June 30, 1939, in Keokuk. She had an older brother, James (Jimmy) Stanton and a younger sister Jonna who was also born in Keokuk. Alicia was born with a twin sister, Arlethia and a younger brother, Billie, who passed at a young age. Alicia’s father James Sr. ran a Conoco station in Keokuk for several years and later worked for Union Electric. Alicia is survived by her devoted husband Larry Day, Daughter Leesa Biddy, Son Mark Day, Grandchildren Tye Anderson, Justin Day, Josh Anderson, Jordan Day, Great Grand Children Ila Blue and Riley Anderson. After Alicia graduated from Keokuk High School in 1956, she attended college at the University of Iowa where she earned an associate degree in X-ray. Following graduation, she went to work for, M.L. Moser, an excellent doctor in Iowa City. He was a surgeon and general practitioner. On July 6th, 1958, Alicia married Larry Day of Brighton, Iowa, who at the time was starting his junior year in Electrical Engineering at Iowa. 2-yrs later they welcomed a daughter, Leesa Ann Day into the family, just 3-months before Larry’s college graduation. After another 2-yrs, later they welcomed a son, Mark Alan Day. The family was complete. For 3-years Larry worked at Peterson Engineering in Iowa City. He then accepted an Engineering position with the Iowa Illinois Telephone Company in New London, Iowa where the Day family then lived for 7-yrs. In 1968 the Company purchased the Knoxville, IA telephone company, thus requiring a move to Knoxville. The moving process with the Telephone Company had begun and Alicia was at her best – turning houses into homes. Just a year later they were transferred to Cottage Grove, Minnesota for work in St. Paul. Another 3-yrs later they were transferred to the Continental Telephone Laboratories in Hickory, North Carolina. 2-more years took the family to the Corporate Headquarters in Bakersfield, CA. Alicia adapted well to interacting with people in upper management positions. Another 2-years later, the company moved its Headquarters to Atlanta, GA where the family settled in the suburb community of Marietta. Very unexpectedly, in 1990 GTE purchased the telephone company (by then called Contel) and our family career planning came to an abrupt halt. This called for some radical changes to our way of life. Larry started his own Engineering Consulting business and Alicia “kept the home fires burning”. Another 2-yrs went by until Larry accepted a 2-yr management assignment with one of his U.S. consulting customers, this time in Melbourne Australia, where Alicia & Larry moved for the 2-yr period. Alicia set about making friends with a series of very special Aussies. It was about this time that Alicia’s Mother began developing serious health problems. In order to maintain our work Visa we had to make regular 6-month return visits to the U.S. So, the time came for Alicia to stay in Keokuk to help care for her mother. In just a few months, it was with great sadness that Grandma Dorothy went to be with the Lord in late 1994. It was likewise with great sadness that Larry was unable to fly back to be with the family. This left Alicia to assist and to grieve alone. Emotionally, these were very difficult times for both of them – just when husbands and wives need to be available to comfort each other. After Larry completed his Australian commitment and returned home in 1995, the “waters were calm for a time”, however, by 2015 “storm clouds were quietly gathering”. Alicia was showing signs of dementia. By 2017 it became clear that she had Alzheimer’s. After many months of enduring a slow decline, she too went to be with the Lord at about 5:00AM on June 27. Grandson Josh was at her side, holding her hand. Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there; I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am sunlight on ripened grain. I am the dew on watermelons in the field. When you awaken in the morning’s hush I am the swift uplifting rush. Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. I am in the arms of the Lord, Awaiting the day, we are reunited and again in each other’s embrace. Do not stand at my grave and cry. I am not there; I did not die. For those that would like to send flowers, instead we respectfully request you donate to HighPoint Church: HighPoint - Atlanta Donation Link. https://highpointatlanta.churchcenter.com/giving