Shirley Harris Layton

HUNTSVILLE- Shirley Harris Layton, 99, passed away on October 14, 2023. She was born on March 16, 1924 in Harrisville, Utah, the only daughter of Martin H. and Viola Eames Harris. She had two older brothers, Robert and Douglas Harris. Of course she was the apple of her father’s eye.

She grew up on a farm and according to her; she worked from sunup to sundown. She lived through the great depression and always told her children about the year they did not get a Christmas tree because they were $1.00. It was a hard life, but a great one and living on a farm they always had plenty to eat.

Shirley attended Weber High School from 1939 to 1942. During her senior year, on December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor was bombed; thus, changing lives across the world. After her graduation, most of the boys in her class went to war, and most of the girls went to work at Hill Air Force Base to fill in for all the men that were gone.

The war ended in 1945, that summer she met the love of her life, Jesse Graham Layton at Como Springs in Morgan, Utah, where the returning soldiers and the girls who wanted to meet soldiers hung out.

Mom and dad were married January 23, 1946 in the Salt Lake City Temple. They lived in Clearfield, Utah and in 1954 purchased a small farm and moved to Huntsville, Utah where she lived for almost 70 years.

Mom had a strong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served many years in different callings in the Relief Society, Primary and Young Women. She was loved by so many people and served those around her for years. Her most recent calling was the Young Women Secretary at the age of 90. In 1985 Mom and Dad served as one of the first missionaries in the Nigeria, Africa mission.

Shirley is survived by her children, Kathy (Ron) Johansen, Huntsville, Val (Toone) Layton, Lander, WY, Connie Layton (daughter-in-law), Rodney (Tersesa) Layton, Huntsville, Bradley (Cathie) Layton, Huntsville; 22 grandchildren, 67 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Graham; son, Scott Harris Layton; grandson, Erik Jay Johansen and great-granddaughter, Berklee Taylor Johansen.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 20, 2023 at 11 a.m. at the Huntsville First Ward, 277 S. 7400 E. Friends may visit with family on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment, Huntsville City Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.

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