Raymond D. Layton, 81, of Rockford, Illinois was present with the Lord after 11:44 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. During his long illness and at the time of his Homegoing, he was at the family home under the care of his family and the expert care of Northern Illinois Hospice. Ray was born May 22, 1944, in Sikeston, Missouri, to Raymond E. and Doris Wilson Layton. Ray proudly served in the US Army from 5/16/1967-3/31/1969, during the Vietnam Era, in the Demilitarized Zone of Korea. He was a retiree from Woodward Governor in 2000, after a career in various departments and “doing Layton’s magic”, according to an individual in management, for many years in Component Rework. Ray had many and varied positions post retirement until 2014.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Linda Andrews Layton; children, Darrel Ray (Sarah Running-Layton) of Port Orange, FL., Angela Layton-Merkel of Machesney Park, Carl D. Layton (Debbie Fioretto-Layton) of Loves Park, and Christa Layton of Rockford, IL; grandchildren, Gage Andrews Layton of Upper Sandusky, OH., Trystan Ray Layton of Smyrna, TN., Dillon Johnson (Alyssa Winchester) of Clayton, NC., Isabelle Rayelin Wooden of Loves Park and Jacob Allen Merkel of Machesney Park, IL.; great-grandchild, Heidi Star Layton of Upper Sandusky, OH.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sharon Kay Beardsley Layton in 1978.
The family would like to thank caregivers OSF Healthcare and Northern Illinois Hospice, for extending Ray’s life and quality of life.
My Home is God, Himself; Christ brought me there! I placed myself within His mighty arms, He took me up, and safe from all alarms. He bore me where no foot but His has trod within the holiest, at home with God, and had me dwell in Him, rejoicing there.
