Nancy Layton

Nancy Ann Layton, age 81, of McPherson, Kansas, died at her home in McPherson, Thursday, April 6, 2023.

Mrs. Layton was born Nancy Ann Modlin on Oct. 18, 1941, in Beloit, Kansas. She was the only child of George Henry and Grace Oliver (Alcorn) Modlin.

Nancy grew up in Randall, Kansas, where she went to school through the sixth grade. Her father's employment took the family to Wichita, for one year and Jamestown, for one year where Nancy attended schools until the family returned to Randall in 1955. She graduated from Randall Rural High School in 1959.

After attending Fort Hays State College for one year, Nancy enrolled at Personnel Training Institute in Omaha, Nebraska. Upon graduating, she moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she was employed by United Airlines.

She was engaged to Dennis Layton in 1960. They were married in Lynwood, California, on May 7, 1961. They would live in Whittier, Covina and eventually Glendora, California, where they made their home and raised their family.

Nancy resumed her working career outside the home in 1972, with Foothill Medical Laboratory and then Dr. Jack Bostwick, both in Glendora, California, until 1979. She then had the opportunity for employment with the CPA firm of Campbell, Graves and Associates Inc., also in Glendora, where she worked until 1992. Nancy ended her working career with the firm of Gill & Knowles Accountancy Corp. in Upland, California, where she was office manager, retiring in 1994.

After retirement, she and her husband, Dennis, returned to Kansas and lived in Concordia until 2002 before moving to Hillsboro, Kansas. Then in 2006, they moved to McPherson, where Nancy called home until her death.

Nancy was baptized into the Methodist faith as an infant. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in McPherson. She was a former member of SASNAK Study Club, Concordia. She was initiated into Concordia P.E.O. Chapter EV in December, 1999. She demitted to Chapter DB in Marion, in September 2001. Upon her move to McPherson, she demitted to Chapter AY in 2007. Nancy was a member of McPherson Hospital Volunteer Services and enjoyed giving of her time to help others. She was also a former member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Alhambra Fire Department, Alhambra, California.  

Nancy was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and a dear friend to many. Nancy made friends easily. Her smile and her quick wit will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She was proud of her children and their accomplishments. She was especially proud of her grandchildren and what they have accomplished in their young lives. 

Nancy enjoyed all kinds of music, especially rock and roll in her younger days. She liked classical music and even grudgingly learned to like country western in her later years. She was an avid reader and she liked to work in her flower garden. She also liked to walk and would do so daily until she was no longer able to because of her health.  She liked to travel and see new places. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Stacey Lynne Cordell; and a grandson, Russell Gregory Layton.  

Nancy is survived by her husband of more than 61 years, Dennis of McPherson, Kansas; her son, Greg, and wife, Loretta, of Glendora, California; four grandchildren, Kyle Layton of Concord, California, Luke Layton and wife, Taylor, of Glendora, Tyler Cordell and wife, Caitlyn, of Manhattan, Kansas, and Kailey Cordell of Kansas City, Missouri; two great-grandchildren, Isla Cordell, Manhattan, Kansas and Amelia Layton, Glendora.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, April 14, at Glidden-Ediger-Wiggins Chapel, McPherson. Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 15, at the First United Methodist Church in McPherson with the Rev. Emily Spearman Cannon officiating. Burial will follow at McPherson Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Nancy to the Alzheimer's Association or the American Cancer Society in care of Glidden-Ediger-Wiggins Funeral Home, 222 W. Euclid St., McPherson, Kansas 67460.