Frederick A. Dayes

Frederick Alan "Rick" Dayes died on Friday, March 21, 2014 at the age of 76 in Farmington Hills, Michigan. He was born the son of Frederick and Esther (Wittla) Dayes on February 6, 1938 in Detroit, Michigan. Anyone who came to know Rick, fondly remembers his passion for sports. He was a versatile athlete enjoying softball, tennis and golf. In addition, he was a league bowler and sought after billiards companion; and often shared stories of angling for small mouth bass on area inland lakes. He was a skilled pianist and guitar player, and participated in both the male and mixed choruses at church. While in his presence, one often heard him spontaneously sing a few bars of whatever song might be on his mind. As a youth, he was very active in the church's Luther League, and served a term as its president. He also enjoyed ushering and participating in church sponsored sports programs. Rick had a long and successful career at Deluxe Check Printers, Inc.; and was entrusted with the oversight of the quality control of all printed material produced by the company. His role was not without its challenges, as it was prior to the era of computers and laser printing; and featured traditional typesetting and ink printing processes. At home, he enjoyed living a quiet life. He spent much of his time gardening, playing with his dogs and tending to his extensive collection of African cichlids. As a former season ticketholder, his passion for University of Michigan Football was unparalleled, and he rarely missed a televised game, wherein any Detroit sports team was a competitor. He was extremely proud of his large extended family, and never hesitated to express fond memories and anecdotes of his past interactions with his many relatives. To know him, was to know a kind and gentle soul, who never uttered an angry word or hesitated to help a friend. His presence will be sadly missed by those who knew him. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at the R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home, 15451 Farmington Rd. in Livonia, Michigan. Memorials are welcomed, and may be made to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 23425 Lahser Road, Southfield, Michigan 48033. Please share a memory of Rick with his family by signing the guestbook. Funeral Home: R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Services 15451 Farmington Rd. Livonia, MI US 48154