March
18, 2007: For Sale by Private Owner: 2 beautiful Grandma Layton drawings...
For more information, please e-mail
TJ
and Pat Bivins
July 26, 2007:
This is Laura McFarland (Layton), I was poking around online looking for
the eagle mascot to attach to a letter for Mr. Morris, who is retiring this
year, and happened upon this sight. ANYWAY...our big news - Nathan is engaged!
They plan to be married October 20, 2007 in Hendersonville, TN, and will
continue to live in Nashville. Her name is Alisha Nicole Shewmaker. Nathan
works at Gibson Guitars in Nashville, has his own recording studio that
he works out of from his apartment, and gives a few guitar lessons. Alisha
will graduated from MTSU in Murfreesboro, TN with a degree in Social Work,
minoring in Psychology. Her plan is get her masters in counseling. We are
very excited that they found each other. I think they make a wonderful little
couple, and we couldn't be more thrilled!
March 16, 2007:
Joe and I received an award tonight at the Arthritis Community Services for
our fundraising efforts last year, and as we were all talking before dinner
I mentioned Gma Layton, as I always try to do in new company! There were 2
ladies there that both have some of Gma's work and books, and they just went
crazy knowing she was my grandma! It was so interesting, one lady runs the
Adult Living Center for the local hospital, and she was just beside herself!
She was the lady who introduced us for the award, so when she did she told
everyone there who my famous Gma was, and to check out her website and what
a moving and fascinating journey Gma shared with the world through her art.
It is so good to keep her memory and her achievements alive through the website
and her artwork.
March 17, 2007:
Hello Everyone, Aunt Alvera sent these gorgeous pictures of Carlenes wedding
last July. Hope you enjoy them! - Barbara (Layton) Kearney
This was written in
March of 1993 for Grandma Layton's funeral, combined memories and remembrances
from her 25 grandchildren. Brad, Kirk and Darren Layton; Marci, Kent, Laura,
Annette, Steven, Kurtis and Barbara Layton; Liza, Danny and Anne Nichols;
Pam, Linda, Wendy, Carlene and Jenny Nichols; Carla, Kathy and Judy Russell;
Greg and Eric Nitcher, Nancy and David Dumler, We love you and miss you dearly
Grandma, and are proud to continue your legacy through your website, where
we can truly share you with the world.
I'm not so sure if this is exactly what was said, but it is everyone's
comments, all rolled together.
- Kathy (Russell) Tracy
Oreo Cookies and Pink
Lemonade,
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches, Grape Kool-aid.
From her sewing room,
dozens of school uniforms,
prom dresses and intricate Barbie Doll clothes,
a labor of love, each stitch that she sewed.
Trips to the swimming
pool,
time shared in gentle words from the porch swing,
Her heart and her home were always open.
Sincerity and strength, her wisdom would bring.
She laughed with such
joy at our childish pranks:
a cat in the refrigerator
cookie dough on the ceiling
"bumping" down the stairs,
fighting over who would occupy the prized
cartoon-watching position under her coffee table.
Her quick and ready
smile,
always encouraging us to learn the value of laughing at
ourselves and seeing the good that every situation holds.
Most of us were lucky
enough to practically live at
Gma and Gpa's house,
but the grandkids who didn't live so close were always
lovingly remembered with a special Thanksgiving
centerpiece or Easter corsage, or an article she
carefully chose to pass along to just the right person
at just the right time,
usually saying exactly what they needed to hear.
Grandma showed us that
love was unconditional,
showed us an open mind and an open heart, kindness,
compassion and acceptance that created stability in
our lives.
Thank you Grandma, for being a true grandma.
Many people think Grandma
has a wonderful heart,
but in truth she had no heart at all, for she gave it all
away. We'll share our Grandma Layton with you
world, thru her insight and her art, but forever have the
privilege of treasuring our Grandma in our heart.
In 1987, my sisters
and I started a Family Newsletter, mostly to stay in touch with Family members,
and also because, well, we could - turned out to be one of the best things
ever! Kathy, Mom and I (Carla) worked at the Thrifty Nickel in St. Joseph,
Missouri, and Judy was working as a typesetter way up north in Minnesota.
Printer's ink flows freely through our blood (thank you Grandpa and Grandma
Converse!), so it's not like we could help ourselves! Grandma Layton became
our "hub", collecting bits and pieces of "news" from
our rather large and scattered extended Family. We three Russell girls took
turns at editing the newsletter, but Grandma was always there for us - each
issue, for a little over 4 years (even sending money monthly for stamps!).
We have literally hundreds of letters, notes and photographs she sent, sometimes
a line or two, sometimes several pages - always including everybody
in some way. "Russell Riting is the glue that holds me together"
- that's what Grandma said... After she died we found out that Grandma is
the glue that held us together, always has, always will! Grandma's
love and strengths were Super Glue! So this page will be our From The
Family newsletter page, we hope to fill it with Memories, personal quips
and observations from Grandma herself... who, by the way - would probably
just love the website, it is, after all, a glorified "small town"
newsletter! A faster, more efficient way to spread the word, and keep in
touch with "Family" members all over the world. And, Grandma -
no postage necessary! - by Carla Russell
Any and all written and/or pictorial contributions
are welcome, please submit to:
Carla,
Kathy or Judy
