Dayton Thomas Foot

Dayton Thomas Foot, 12, of Gaylord, passed away at home unexpectedly Tuesday, October 31, 2023, due to a tragic accident.

Born in Detroit, MI, on May 4, 2011, he is the son of Kenneth Foot and Dr. Kristine Bobish. He was born, with his twin sister, 3 months early at 2 lbs. 2 ounces and spent his first 3 months in the hospital intensive care unit. His zest for life started early. He attended St. Mary Cathedral School and St. Mary Cathedral Catholic Church where he was a frequent altar server, including having served at Sunday Mass just days before going to Heaven.

Dayton was a happy, considerate, and compassionate young man who had a friendly greeting for every person he met.  He had a pure heart, loving and praying for everyone, especially his family and friends.  His gentleness and helpfulness, his smile, and his laugh, were all so genuine. He cared about the people around him and had a knack for being a peacemaker. Dayton was one of a kind, with a unique and special personality and an infectious laugh, which will never be forgotten by anyone who met him.

He loved riding in the John Deere tractor, Gator, and the Arctic Cat side-by-side. He was a member of the Gaylord Gators Swim Club and took great pleasure in tubing and downhill skiing. Dayton also enjoyed playing video games and board games with his friends, building Legos, Marvel Comics, and all things Star Wars, which is fitting as his birthday is also known as Stars Wars Day (May the 4th be with you). He loved to eat healthy foods, the morning of his death, he had plans to take a whole red bell pepper to school to eat.

He looked forward to playing the piano with his mom and reading Harry Potter with his dad and his brother.  Dayton loved to listen to his mom play the piano as he went to sleep at night.  His mom called him “my biggest man” because he was so small.

He is survived by his parents, Ken and Kristine; his brother, Karl; his grandparents, Barbara and Thomas Bobish of Gaylord; aunts and uncles, Nancy and Dan McAuliffe of Kewadin, Jackie Foot of Troy, Kathie and Greg Hamlin of Berryville, VA, Dale and Betsy Foot of Rochester Hills; cousins, Katie, Matt and Tim McAuliffe, Michelle Percival, Rachel Foot, Nick, Tom and Monica Hamlin, Amanda Lewis, Alexandra Schifflett. Ellen Perkowski and Cathryn Van Dusen.

He was preceded in death by his twin sister, Barbara Rose; grandparents, Dayton and Jeanette Foot; and uncle, Tom Foot.

Visitation will take place from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Monday, November 6, 2023, at Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place 12:00 PM Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at St. Mary Cathedral where the family will visit with friends beginning at 11:00 AM.

Since Dayton had a love for John Deere tractors, those attending his visitation or funeral are encouraged to show their love for Dayton by wearing any John Deere attire if they have it or wearing yellow and green ribbons that will be available.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dayton Thomas Foot Fund of the OCF or online at https://give.otsegofoundation.org/Foot; or to Gaylord St. Mary Cathedral School. Please share your memories and personal messages with the family on his website below.