Betty Layton

1933 - 2013

Betty Biggs Layton

May 29, 1933

October 10, 2013

Betty Biggs Layton passed away peacefully on October 10, 2013. Betty's time here began May 29, 1933, in Barre, Vermont, where she was born to Waldron and Gloria Biggs. She graduated from Spaulding High School in Barre and then from the Rhode Island School of Design, in Providence, Rhode Island. Her love of art continued through her entire life. She painted oil on canvas, sewed her family's clothes, and with her family business, Aren't We Wonderful, designed table settings, painted shirts, and painted and clothed porcelain dolls. Her most recent creative endeavors were carving and painting ostrich eggs and writing Haiku. Betty wed Carl Uhlhorn in 1955. Their only daughter, Lisanna, passed away as an infant. Betty and Carl adopted Dana Matthew and Heidi Kristel, and raised their children in Northern Nevada, where they divorced in the late 1970's. After many years, Betty fell in love with Frank Layton. She used to joke that she waited two years to marry him: they met in December 1989, and married in January 1990. Frank passed away 3 years later. Betty adopted Joseph Samson as an adult. Betty is grandmother to Amy O'Brien, Savannah and Montgomery Uhlhorn, and Fi Samson; sister of Bonnie Aylward of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; mother and mother-in-law to Dana and Karla Uhlhorn, Joe and Heidi Zeman, and Joseph and Meili Samson; aunt to Dawn and Jess Aylward, and David, Don and Dean Biggs. She was predeceased by her brother, David and his wife, Jan. She is survived by her two cats, Cinnamon and Ginger.

Betty was a member of the Charity Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her fondness for angels led her to the North Valley Sassy Classy Bear Ladies chapter of The Red Hat Society, where she became the Empress of Mystique, and where she found loving sisters to share all-good time with. She attended Tong Ren classes for many years. Her diagnoses of breast cancer this past summer followed years of victories against diabetes and heart disease. Betty remained cheerful and loving through each of her challenges, and touched all who met her with her kind heart and open mind. She was recently featured in The Betty Book, and was a member of the Betty Club. Warmest thanks and gratitude to Gentiva Hospice, and Betty's close friends for their gentle care during her last week's here. We welcome friends to her Celebration of Life, October 20, at 11 a.m., at her home on Bonnie Briar Place in Reno. As stated by one of her oldest friends, We are all visitors in this world, and that's why we don't stay. When God calls our name, we go home.