This is to ALL who wrote and sent their heartfelt condolences on the loss of my mother, Mary Alice Jane MERRIMAN Layton who died on the 29th of May. I did read ALL of the personal emails as well as the ones on the different sites I am subscribed to. Each and everyone touched my heart in a very special way. It is great to have special friends like those who responded. Thanks for the special prayers, and I enjoyed reading the poems and stories. For those of you who may want a copy of my Mom's obituary, it is below: It has been revised some. _________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 - The Daily Statesman, Dexter, MO - Thurs., May 31, 2001 Mary A. Layton Mary Alice Jane Layton, daughter of the late Willis "Poppy" and Malinda "Parzee" Smothers Merriman, was born at Peel, Ark., on March 28, 1926, and died at her home in Bloomfield on May 29, 2001, at the age of 75. Mrs. Layton had spent most of her life in the Bloomfield community and was of the Pentecostal faith. On January 22, 1949, she was married to Raymond Everett Layton and he preceded her in death on November 2, 1981. Survivors include two sons, Doyle Layton of Essex and Willis Layton of Dexter; two stepsons, A.W. Layton of Sikeston and R.D. Layton of Rockford, Ill.; three daughters, Lois Carmack and Joyce Hall both of Essex, and Parzee Baker of Monett, Mo.; five brothers, George Merriman of Dugginsville, Mo., Joe Merriman of Searcy, Ark., Russell Merriman of Judsonia Ark., Guy Merriman of Gregory Ark. and Silas Merriman of Judsonia Ark.; two sisters, Ermalee Jackson of Leachville, Ark., and Joyce Jackson of Manila, Ark.; **19 grandchildren, **6 step-grandchildren, **32 great grandchildren, **4 step-great grandchildren, and **3 step great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Danny Lee Layton; one sister, Totsie Faye Merriman and one step grandson. Friends may call at the Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield from 6-8 p.m., Friday, June 1. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 2, at 1 p.m., at Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield with Rev. Chuck Newell of Cape Girardeau, Mo. officiating, assisted by Bro. Danny Rice of Sikeston, Mo. Burial will follow in the Link Cemetery with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. **Songs sung were Amazing Grace, Peace in The Valley, Go Rest High on That Mountain by the Baker granddaughters. The last song was Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down sung by Mrs. Judy Rice Tanner of Sikeston, Mo., a friend of the family. The Pallbearers were grandsons, Ronnie Carmack, Paul Woodard, Jr., Chuck Carmack, Robert Cullum, Ronald Layton, Doug Graviett, and Vernon Webb. Honorary Participating Pallbearer was Tony Layton and Honorary Pallbearers were Bradley and Raymond Henson. All were granddaughters and grandsons of the deceased except Mrs. Tanner. _________________________________________________________________________ The above with the ** marks was either corrected or added to, which is different from the newspaper. Again Thanks to Everyone! Lois _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com