Bessie Layton

Bessie Allred Layton passed away July 7th 2016 in her home in Thatcher. She was the secondchild of Clifford Lorenzo Allred and Lola Myrl Sevey. She was born October 3, 1914 in SaffordArizona. Bessie loved to serve and was involved in many community and church eventsthroughout her long and productive life.She attended 3 years and graduated from the Juarez Academy in Mexico then continued hereducation with 2 years at the Gila Academy where she met and married Farrel C. Layton in1936. The had two sons Farrel Dennis Layton and Ronald Deon Layton. They were very activeand lived and farmed around Arizona and lived in Thatcher.Bessie was a member and president of the Graham County Republican women for 50 years, amember of the Safford Women's Club for 70 years and served as President and Vice President.A Charter Member of the hospital Auxiliary of Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center. The firstChristmas House was at her home. Bessie was likewise very active in and dedicated to herchurch callings. She served in many positions, Teacher, Relief Society as president andcouncilor, Young women's program and stake Sunday School. And with her husband, she served a Stake Mission.Bessie traveled the world with her husband and loved and appreciated the variety of people andplaces they visited. She was a loving, concerned, and supportive mother, grandmother, andgrandma-great. She has always been described as a woman of class and was known for herability to entertain and host large events. She has touched many lives with her good deeds.She is survived by her sister Ruth Rais of Mesa, her son R. Deon Layton of Buckeye and his wife Marilyn, a daughter-in-law, Paula Freestone Layton of Thatcher, 11 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.She was preceded in death by her husband Farrel C. Layton and her son F. Dennis Layton, herparents and siblings, 3 sisters and 1 brother. Her family has celebrated her and her husband's good lives many times with major birthday andanniversary parties. This will be her final celebration but we will always honor them as a family.Services will be held on Saturday July 16th at 11:00 a.m. at the Thatcher Stake Center 1260 NReay Lane Thatcher Arizona. Viewing at 9:30 a.m. at the same location. Interment will be in the Thatcher Cemetery following the services.