Lucile Margaret Day, a lifelong resident of Smith Valley, passed away on September 18, 2021. She was born to Norman D. and Lucile Dressler Brown on August 12, 1923 in San Francisco. She grew up on the Plymouth Ranch in Smith Valley, Nevada.
Lucile attended the University of Nevada, Reno, where she graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. While there, she cherished her time as a member of the Tri-Delta sorority.
Shortly after graduation, she married Emmett Day. They were blessed with three daughters and 58 years of marriage. Lucile and Emmett dedicated their lives to their ranching business, first at the Plymouth Ranch and Bridgeport during the summers, and then, in later years, at the Desert Creek Ranch.
Family was one of Lucile’s greatest joys in life. She especially loved decorating her home and cooking for the family on holidays. In later years, she and Emmett traveled on Western Livestock Journal tours, connecting with new friends, and learning about ranching across the world.
The Smith Valley community was always important to her, and she was especially proud of the time she spent on the library board and the school’s PTA. She also spent many happy hours playing bridge with her “old bridge club” friends.
She was preceded in death by Emmett. She is survived by daughters Wilma Compston (John), Carolyn Day (Brett Reed), and Marilyn Ithurburu (John Pierre); grandchildren Leslie Peters (Patrick), Matt Compston (Gretchen), Jenni Burr (Richard Moore), and Pierre Ithurburu (Kristen); and great grandchildren Madison and Mackenzie Peters, Emmett, Alexandra, and Jackson Compston, Finn and Keegan Moore, and Peio and Chaz Ithurburu.
Per Lucile’s wishes, a gathering of family will be held at a later date.