Margaret Alice Eblen Layman

Margaret Alice Eblen Layman passed away on May 5, 2015 after a courageous battle with cancer. Daughter of Robert Donald and Doshia Margaret Haddix Eblen, Margaret was born in Irvine, Kentucky, on September 8, 1934, and grew up in Lexington, KY. She was a graduate of Henry Clay High School, Lexington, and Transylvania University. At Transylvania University, she majored in Music, English Literature and Political Science, was a member of the choir and Phi Mu sorority. She received her master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Kentucky and an advanced degree in Education at the University of Tennessee. In Lexington, KY, Margaret was a member of the Metropolitan Woman’s Club and Maxwell Street Presbyterian Church, where she also sang in the choir. After moving to Nashville, TN, in 1973, she joined the First Presbyterian Church and Hillsboro Hounds, where she fox hunted for 25 years. In both Lexington and Nashville, she worked as a librarian in the public school systems for 20 years. After relocating to New Orleans in May 2005 (prior to Katrina), she was a member and Elder of St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, where she served on the Congregational Care, Library and Education committees. She was also a member of the Republican Woman’s Club of Louisiana. Margaret was an avid reader and enjoyed historical novels, particularly referencing the Civil War and WWII eras. She loved spending time with family, friends, neighbors and her dogs, in addition to fox hunting, traveling (especially to Paris) and all things French. She also enjoyed spending time at the beach, the JCC Fitness Center and with her book clubs. Margaret is preceded in death by son, John Andrew Petro; parents, Robert Donald and Doshia Margaret Haddix Eblen; husband of thirty years, Robert E. Layman; brothers, Dr. Kenneth Milton Eblen, Henderson, KY, and William Thomas Eblen, Lexington, KY, and sister Mary Louise Eblen Hager of Woodland Hills, California. Margaret is survived by son, Joseph V. Petro III (Rachael Sadinsky) of Lexington, KY, daughter, Jennifer Leslie Petro Steck (John) of New Orleans, and grandchildren, Catherine Allison Steck, John Crawford Steck, Jr., and William Hannon Steck, all of New Orleans. Margaret is also survived by her stepchildren; Brenda Layman Dunford (Harold), Louisville KY, Linda Layman Hunt, Paducah, KY, Bonnie Layman Hall (Charles), Lexington, KY, Robert Stephen Layman (Barbara), Nashville, TN, Anne Layman Wires (Lew), Nashville, TN, and six step-grandchildren. A Memorial Service in honor of Margaret will be held on May 11, 2015 at St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1545 State Street, New Orleans, LA, 70118. Visitation starts at 1:00 followed by the memorial service at 2:00. An Interment will be held at a later date at the First Presbyterian Church’s columbarium, in the Sullivan Gardens, Nashville, TN. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the SPCA in Margaret’s memory. To view and sign the guest book, visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.