Margaret "Midge" Layton

Funeral services for Margaret "Midge" Layton, 89, of Tyler, will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, at 3 p.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Ron Wells officiating. She will be laid to rest following the service in Tyler Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, at 2 p.m., one hour prior to the service.
Midge passed away peacefully under the loving care of The Hospice of East Texas. Mrs. Layton was born Sept. 14, 1924, in Royal Oak, Mich., to her late parents, St. Clare Marshall, born in Paisley, Scotland, and Eunice Hill, born in London, England. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 64 years, Robert E. "Bob" Layton Jr.
Midge was an only child and grew up in Michigan where she excelled academically. She was granted a Fellowship to Brown University in Providence, R.I. While a student at Brown, World War II broke out and she went to work with the war effort in building airplanes. She studied aeronautical engineering at the time, and after the war graduated from Brown.
When Midge was a student, a dance was held for sailors leaving for war in the Pacific. One young sailor named Robert, asked who was the best dancer at Brown. Her friends said Midge was the best dancer. She was encouraged to come meet this Texas sailor. That night a long-distance courtship began. When Bob returned to the states, he graduated from Texas A&M, and Midge moved to the South and they were married at First Presbyterian of Tyler on June 7, 1947. They were "forever" sweethearts and best friends.
Bob Layton went into business in 1949 with his father, R.E. Layton Sr., to form Layton Engineering Co. Midge soon joined the company as the office manager and bookkeeper. Together they were involved in church and community affairs. Midge was the "woman behind the man"; she was always supportive and a perfect wife, friend, partner and mother to their two children. She was always in attendance or volunteering in the many activities of her children, like scouting, music classes, Bible study, football, band and volleyball.
Midge was the quintessential "Proverbs 31 Woman." Her greatest joys were her family, her grandchildren and then the added blessing of taking care of her great-grandchildren. She adored the children and enjoyed every holiday, birthday, sporting event, award ceremony or any opportunity to babysit.
Midge is survived by her daughter, Marsha Anderson and husband Jim; son, Robert E. Layton III and wife Marsha Anne; loving grandchildren, C.J. Anderson and wife Amy, Robert E. Layton IV and fiancée Molly Zier, of Denver, Colo., Jeremy Anderson and fiancée Ashley Stanley, of Dallas, Le'Anne and Daniel Southerland; great-grandchildren, Emma, Camden and Jack Anderson, Kaiden and Layton Anderson, Baylee Anne Southerland; Dutch Son, Hans Beunderman; a niece and three nephews. Because of her faith and trust in God, Midge's legacy lives on through her family. She had unconditional love and acceptance of every person she met. She was the embodiment of I Corinthians 13.
The family would like to thank Green Acres Baptist Church and John Childs Sunday School class for their prayers and support. Also, we thank The Hamptons Assisted Living for two years of precious memories and making a home for our mother. In addition, thank you to Prestige Memory Care who cared for our mother the last weeks of her life. To the doctors, nurses, aides, volunteers and chaplains of The Hospice of East Texas, we are forever grateful for caring for mother with respect and love.
In honor of Midge's love for her children and grandchildren, her family requests memorials be made to Green Acres Baptist Church, Children's Ministry, 1607 Troup Highway, Tyler, 75701; or The Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, 75701.
"Heavenly Father, thank you, God, for the honor and the privilege of having the most incredible Godly woman, wife, mother, grandmother and friend as our mother. We praise you for giving her to us to be a lighthouse for grace and love for our entire family, and all those whom she met. Her quiet faith, faithful walk, trusting heart and unwavering love and honor for you, Lord, is her legacy and gift to generations to come. We thank You and praise You for the gift of her life and that she now is with You as You promised. Amen." - The Layton and The Anderson families.