Gregory M. Day

SHERIDAN ? If you knew our son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin, uncle, and friend, Gregory M. Day, you appreciated his candid wit, soft heart and punch line grin. But, if you really knew and loved Greg, you are probably a redneck. If passionate is a word you think of when remembering him, you must be familiar with his fly cast, heard him tell a hunting story, or connected with him over an Eagles game or noxious weed discussion. The nature behind Greg's stories kept us all on the edge of our seats, whether the truth or a whopper ? his own McMannis! His extreme approach to cribbage will live throughout the Ruby Valley in infamy.

The past four months, Greg had been recovering from his fourth open-heart surgery brought about by complications from MPS, Mucopollysaccharidosis (a rare genetic disease). His tenuous heart succumbed Saturday morning, Dec. 3, 2005, after spending his last night enjoying the annual winter stroll with his whole community. Greg died at the Ruby Valley Hospital across the hall from where he was born, 30 years ago on July 7, 1975.

The past seven years, Greg has received enzyme replacement therapy for the MPS disorder. He was a participant in the original experimental study on humans, spending six months receiving biologic infusions at Harbor UCLA. He was a 2001 graduate of the University of Montana-Western, where he earned a degree in Environmental Geology, leading to employment with the Madison County Weed Board.

Greg told us he had three goals in his life: graduating from college, working in his chosen field and being instrumental in finding a treatment for MPS diseases. Because he accomplished those goals with his own unique style and grace, Greg has been absolutely delighted to spend his last months with his dad and best friend, enjoying nature, conversation and pursuit of the proverbial "big one."

Memorial celebration is being planned for April 29, 2006.

Memorials can be sent to the MPS Society, PO Box 736 Bangor, ME 04402-7736 or Greg Day Memorial Science Scholarship Fund, Ruby Valley National Bank, Sheridan, MT 59749.