Sadly, we lost Jed to an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer on July 16, 2025. He was surrounded by his loving family: Tracy, Sydney, Tyler, and Cooper. Joseph Edward Day III (Jed) was born in Lubbock, Texas to Joseph and Virginia Day on July 25, 1959. They brought him home to a lovely dresser drawer crib in Sneed Hall on the Texas Tech University campus. 

Jed attended Strake Jesuit high school (class of 1977) where he did outstanding things academically and athletically. He played wide receiver on the football team (State Champion 1976) and ran track (District Champion 1976) competing in the sprint relay, pole vault, and mile relay. He went on to attend Stephen F. Austin (SFA) University on a football scholarship and earned a B.S. degree in Forestry. Jed was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and found a love for rugby, playing for SFA as well as the Western Territorial Select Side and Texas Select teams. In 2022, Jed was recognized as Distinguished Alumnus by the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture.

During his time at SFA, he met his wife, Tracy, with whom he raised three lovely children. Sydney, the oldest child and favorite daughter, married Barret Heinrich and has five children, Riley, Lucy, Rebecca, Jane, and June. Tyler, the middle child, married Claire White and has three children, Waylon, Mary Tyler, and Bonnie. Cooper, the youngest child, married Dominique Moraczewski and has one child, Coraline. In the words of Jed, these are his greatest accomplishments.

Aside from his family, Jed had one other true passion: trees. He worked for Davey Tree for 43 years, moving up from groundsman to Executive Vice President of the U.S. Residential/Commercial Service Line. Though he missed being out in the field, or at the top of a tree, he truly believed in helping Davey employees strive in their positions and provided unmatched mentoring to everyone he met. To this day, his children still remember the latin genus of many trees, which they will undoubtedly pass on to their children.

Jed leaves behind his wife, children, grandchildren, family, and friends—and, of course, Tater Tot. He truly was one of a kind. His empathetic, kind, witty, humorous, humble, and giving nature should be an example to all. He will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.

The family appreciates all support and asks that in lieu of flowers, or any more food, that you please donate to the Arbor Day Foundation link below. This organization was close to Jed’s heart and supports anything and everything trees.