Tola Day

Tola Rae Day was born in Highmore, South Dakota, May 24, 1936. She went to be with her Savior, Jesus Christ, on November 11, 2023, at her home in the Wenas Valley. Tola was blessed to be raised in Sunnyside, WA, by Ray and Leta (Hohenshelt) Harris, her brother Gary Harris, along with their loving extended Hohenshelt-Harris families. As a young girl she trusted Jesus and began to learn, by the example of her family and church, to serve Him. She grew up in the Grace Brethren Church and looked forward each summer to going to the Brethren Church family camp at Clear Lake. She would fondly recall genuinely enjoying swimming in the frigid waters of Clear Lake and making friendships that would endure a lifetime. Tola attended Sunnyside Christian School before graduating from Sunnyside High. She later completed her education by being a member of the fifteenth practical nursing course at Yakima Valley College, graduating as an LPN in February 1963. Tola married Raymond Day on November 14, 1953. They were married for almost 66 years; Ray passed away November 1, 2019. Tola and Ray started their married life living and farming in the Ahtanum Valley. During those years they were blessed with the birth of son James and daughters Kindra, Patti and Janiece. In 1976, Ray and Tola decided it was time to move out to the ranch in the Wenas Valley where they farmed the land and formed deep bonds with their neighbors for the rest of their lives. During their years of living in the Wenas, their family grew to include sons-in-law Sam, Johnny and Rich, followed by grandchildren Jamin (Hannah), Emily (Greg), Claire, Logan, Aaron and Peyton. Great-grandson, Benjamin, was born in 2024. Tola is survived by all her children and grandchildren, their spouses as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, children of her heart and their families, and some dear friends that she loved as if they were her siblings. Tola had also been survived by her birth brother, Jerry Engles, who passed away in March of this year. Tola Rae’s memorial service will be May 25, 2024, at 11:00am at Wiley Union Church, 2711 S Wiley Road, Yakima, WA 98903. A dinner will follow her service. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Tola Day, please visit our flower store.