Layton Byron Jones

Layton Byron Jones 1913 ~ 2011 Layton Byron Jones, 98, passed peacefully from this mortal life at his home in Gig Harbor, WA on July 15, 2011. He lived a long and full life devoted to his family and his faith. He was born April 20, 1913 in Thatcher, AZ to Doctor Byron Jones and Edna Cynthia Layton Jones. He was a fourth generation Mormon and always acknowledged his rich pioneer heritage. His grandfathers, Christopher Layton and Daniel Webster Jones were instrumental in settling the Salt Lake and Gila Valleys. Layton graduated from 8th grade at the age of 12 and went right into his first year of high school in Mesa, AZ. He was a 1st chair trumpet player in high school and college. A natural born athlete he played on championship basketball and baseball teams in high school, college and for the church. In his later years he skied and golfed well into his eighties. He graduated from Mesa Union High School at the age of 16. When his family moved to Los Angeles in 1929 he worked in a bank for two years to earn enough money to attend Gila College back in Thatcher. Here he met the prettiest girl in the school, Aurora Maloy. They were married on June 1st 1933 in the Mesa LDS Temple. While living in Safford, AZ, he was hired by the Standard Oil Company of California. For the next forty years Standard Oil was his vocation. Through those years his family was relocated throughout the Western United States, having lived in Los Angeles twice, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Washington State and Utah where he retired in 1976. His sweet wife of 58 years, Aurora, passed away in 1991. He has served faithfully in church assignments as a Branch President, Bishop, counselor to President Wilford Payne of the Seattle Stake; President of the new Seattle Stake in 1957; four high councils; Region Representative in Salt Lake, North Carolina, and Virginia; opened the new Davao Philippines Mission as Mission President with his wife, Aurora, from 1977 -1980; Stake Patriarch; Sealer in the Jordan River and Provo Temples. In 1999 Layton became reacquainted with Bernice McKenzie and they were married in December of that year. In his own words, this companionship has been a great joy . He is survived by his wife, Bernice, Sequim, WA; daughters, Karen (Jim) Amis, Whidbey Island, WA; Janet (Brent) Packard, Springville, UT; Cynthia (Stephen) Clark, St. Louis, MO; Sister, Helen Jones (Lyle) Buffington, CA; Stepchildren: Michael McKenzie, Patrick McKenzie, Heidi McKay, Wendy Wynne, Heather McKenzie-Davidson and their respective families; 18 grandchildren; 68 great grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren. He was greatly loved and we miss him, but we are comforted by his reunion with those who preceded him in death: parents; wife, Aurora; son, Jeffrey Layton; granddaughter, Kathryn Jane; brothers, Joseph Talmage, Collins Elmer, Harold Walter; John Ralph; sister, Edna Ruth Jones Clifford. The family thanks the Seattle Hospice Services for their tender care of Layton during his final days. They also thank Cook Family Funeral Home on Bainbridge Island, WA and the McDougal Funeral Home of Salt Lake City, UT. Funeral services will be Saturday, July 30, 2011 at 12:00 Noon at the Wesley Road Chapel, 5285 South Wesley Road (1100 East). Friends may call at the chapel from 10:30 11:45 on that morning prior to the services. Burial will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, UT. In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund or the Church Missionary Fund. Hobbies:Basketball, Baseball, Skiing and GolfingOccupation:BusinessmanOccupation:Standard Oil