Sally Baxter Day, 96, passed away peacefully at the Knollwood Nursing Center in Worcester on October 1, 2021 after a long and fulfilling life as a daughter, wife, mother, and community leader. Sally was born in Worcester, in 1925, to parents John Ross and Olive (Schiller) Baxter. Her father’s occupation as equipment installer for New England Bell Telephone necessitated frequent relocation of the Baxter household and required young Sally to adjust to no less than 25 different schools before graduation. Not long out of North High School in Worcester, in November 1943, Sally married Warren Southwick Day, also of Worcester, who had begun training as a U.S. Navy aviator.

Sally was predeceased by an infant brother, her parents, a son, and her husband of 45 years. She leaves sons Steven of Yarmouth Port MA, Stuart (Alison Bevin) of Worcester, Spencer (Lois Brown) of Milton MA, Kenneth (Diana) of Worcester, and daughter Elizabeth (Jim Buss) of Middleton WI. Sally’s third-born son, Clifford, passed away in 1981 as a result of Agent Orange exposure during Naval service in Vietnam. Sally also leaves grandchildren Benjamin (Flavia Castelino) of Brookline MA, Matthew (Megan Wilson) of Portland ME, Tyler of Milton MA, Lowell (Margaret) of Worcester, Laura (Alex Gadberry) of Los Angeles CA, Kimberly (Tim Loftus) of Somerville MA, Alan (Emily) of West Brookfield MA, and Tristan Buss of Middleton, WI. Additionally, she leaves great-grandsons Callum and Phineas of Portland ME, and great-granddaughter Louise of Brookline MA.

In 1946, Sally joined Tatnuck Congregational Church in Worcester (now known as First Congregational), where she served in many capacities, including: choir member, Sunday school teacher, Deacon, and Trustee; Mission Committee Chair and President of Women’s Fellowship; and, for many years, chairman of its annual church fairs. Sally also served in a regional capacity as President of the Worcester District Women’s Fellowship, a member of the State Board of Women’s Fellowships, and of the Nurture and Fellowship Committee of the Worcester District United Church of Christ. She also was a 20-year member of the Worcester YWCA and past President of its Nereids Swim Club.

Truly her life’s passion, after her family and church, Sally was an active member of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) for 80 years. She served 47 of those years as a troop leader for girls of every age level, but mostly as an Advisor to high school age Senior scouts. She took her troops overseas to visit British Girl Guides, who then came to the US to be hosted by her Girl Scouts. She shepherded her Senior scouts through nine countries and two International Centers for Scouts and Guides in London, England and Adelboden, Switzerland. Upon retiring from troop leadership, Sally served as a trainer of GSUSA leaders for 25 years and was the recipient of many awards, including the “Thanks Badge”: the highest award conferred in adult scouting. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Montachusett Girl Scout Council and on the History Committee that curated memorabilia and created the council’s Girl Scout Museum. Sally finished off her career as an inaugural member of Alumnae Adult Troop 2016, supporting local programming, council initiatives, and the growth of Girl Scouting in Central and Western MA.

Sally was especially proud of the many lives she touched through Girl Scouting, having been instrumental in turning more than a few young women toward more positive futures than the trajectories on which they had begun their lives. “Mrs. Day” continued to receive frequent calls, visits, and correspondence from her grateful former scouts and scouting associates, right up until her passing. For the love and attention she received from all those she touched in this part of her life, along with those in her church family, her children are indebted and extremely thankful.

Sally’s family would also like to thank the Briarwood community where she resided for almost 16 years, her wonderful caregivers at the Elms, and JHC Home Hospice.

A memorial service and celebration of Sally Day’s life will be held at a later date, to be announced.