Lucian "Jiggs" Layne

Lucian "Jiggs" Layne, 89, passed away Monday, June 20, 2011, at Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House. He was born June 7, 1922, in Sharp County at Simstown Community near Evening Shade to the late Alvis and Willie Layne. Jiggs was a United States Army veteran and served in Italy and Germany from 1942 until 1945 during World War II and was a member of the Monette American Legion. He settled in Monette after the war and married Billie Jack Richardson in October of 1949. They have lived in the same residence in Monette for their entire married life.

He was an auto mechanic by trade and for years operated a garage in Monette. He was also retired from the United States Postal Service as a rural letter carrier. He was a member of the Monette Masonic Lodge #558, a Shriner, a Boy Scout leader, served on the Monette City Council for many years, was a past member of the Monette Volunteer Fire Department, where he had served as Fire Chief, was an officer of the Monette High School Booster Club and Buffalo Island Stadium construction committee back in the 60s. He loved gardening, was an avid duck hunter and St. Louis Cardinals Fan and most of all he loved his family.

He is survived by his wife of over 61 years, Billie Richardson Layne; two children and their spouses, Cindy and Mike Hatch and Skip and Marla Layne, all of Monette; a sister, Jewell Hutchison of Jonesboro; four grandchildren, Kristi Hatch Austin of Monette, Brian Hatch, Crystal Layne Cline and Chip Layne, all of Jonesboro; six great-grandchildren, Ryan Austin, Layne Austin, Kelsea Cline, Kaitlyn Cline, Whitlee Layne and Taylor Layne, and several nieces and nephews who he also loved dearly.

He was also preceded in death by a brother, Leo Layne, and a sister, Mildred Hawkins.

A celebration of his life was held at 10 a.m., Thursday, June 23, at the Monette First Baptist Church with Rev. Jerry Reed and Rev. Rusty Bird officiating. Entombment as at Monette Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Gregg Funeral Home of Monette.

Visitation was from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, June 22, at the Monette First Baptist Church.

Honored to serve as pallbearers were Allen Dewitt, Bob Blankenship, Randy Hutchison, Gary Qualls, Jim Grisham and Lester Mullen and as honorary pallbearers, David Harrell, Dusty Harrell, Gene Gathright, Claude Earl Barnett, Bud Cannon, Kyle Blankenship, Wallace Harrison, Carrol Wilmoth, Stan Reed and the members of the Monette American Legion Post.

Lasting memorials may be sent to the Monette First Baptist Church or Monette Methodist Church or the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House.

Personal condolences may be sent to the Layne family at www.greggfunerals.com.