George Robert Layne

LAYNE, GEORGE ROBERT, age 97 of Knoxville, passed away on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at The Ben Atchley State Veterans Home. He had lived at Arbor Terrace Assisted Living Community since April, 2009 and at The Ben Atchley State Veteran’s Home since June, 2012. While he was saved and baptized at the First Baptist Church of Coal Creek, Tennessee in October of 1923, at the time of his death, he was a member of First Baptist Church, Concord. Mr. Layne was born on December 6, 1914 at the family home in Coal Creek (Lake City), Tennessee. His father was a telegrapher with the Southern Railroad and his mother was a housewife. After the death of his father in September of 1924, he was raised at the Masonic Home For Widows and Orphans in the Iglewood section of Nashville. He worked on the farm there, played clarinet in the home band and participated in the Boy Scout program while he was there. He attended Isaac Litton and Jere Baxter High Schools, both public schools in Nashville. At Jere Baxter High School he played guard on the basketball team. They were the Davidson County Champion team for the 1930-1931 season. He then transferred to Isaac Litton High School after it opened. When he got back to Knoxville he worked with the WPA for a short time. In his professional life, Mr. Layne was a businessman working in Knoxville. His first job was at the old Holston-Union Bank; general bookkeeper Hamilton National Bank; office manager Huber & Huber Motor Express; office and credit manager Lays Packing Company; business manager General Truck Sales; credit manager and assistant treasurer Fowler Brothers Stores; credit manager House-Hasson Hardware Company. He was a decorated combat veteran of World War II serving overseas for 27 months and 5 days with the United States Army in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. He was a member of the Charles McKinney Lodge #433 F&AM for nearly 50 years, 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and a lifetime member of the Kerbela Shrine Temple. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret Jamborsky Layne, second wife, Nora Harbin DeArmond Layne; grandparents, George W. Layne and Rebecca A. Fugett Layne of Newcomb and John E. Hightower and Nancy Ann McKamey Hightower of Coal Creek (Lake City); mother, Minnie Hightower Layne; father, James Harvey Layne; sisters, Anna Beatrice Layne, Ella Sue Layne Craig, Edna Ruth Layne Davenport Oaks; brothers, Paul Martin Layne, James William Layne, and Ivan Dennis Layne.

He is survived by daughter, Nancy Layne Hanson of Mexico; granddaughter, Michelle Hoover and husband, Michael; great-granddaughter Catherine Hoover, all of California; nephews, Charles Robert Davenport of Knoxville, William Eric Jamborsky and wife, Jean of Nashville; niece, Diane Jamborsky Fields and husband, Lou of Mississippi; great nieces, Faith Charlene Watson, Hope RuthAnn Ellis and husband, David; great-great-nephew and niece, Bill and Emily Ellis all of Knoxville; brother-in-law, Robert L. “Red” Oaks of Florida; special friends Jean and Bill Johnson of Powell. The family appreciates the kind, thoughtful care that the staff of Arbor Terrace and The Ben Atchley Home gave to Mr. Layne during his stay there.

Friends may call at their convenience on Wednesday, September 19th at Lynnhurst-Greenwood Chapel. Graveside service for Mr. Layne will be held at 11 am Thursday at Lynnhurst Cemetery with Rev.Tim Hopkins officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Mr. Layne to The Shrine Hospital for Children, c/o Kerbela Temple, 315 Mimosa Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee 37920. Arrangements by Lynnhurst-Greenwood Chapel of Berry Funeral Home. Condolences may be offered at www.lynnhurstchapel.com.