Obituary for Joan Hill Layton

Joan Hill Layton, a long-time resident of Safford, passed into eternity in the evening of April 25, 2019.  She was born in Norfolk, Virginia to Sydney Hodgson and Emily Hill Hodgson on March 4, 1923.

Joan grew up in New Jersey and went to school at Cape May, graduating in 1941.  After high school, Joan began working for a bank in New Jersey as a bookkeeper.  In 1946, Joan moved to Arizona, settling in Safford to begin working for Don Welker at Valley National Bank, where she stayed for 10 years. 

On March 14, 1956, Joan married Junior Grant Layton and they made their home in Safford, where Joan remained for the rest of her life, except for a few years they spent in Washington, where Grant owned and operated a service station. The couple was blessed with children Ellen and Christopher Layton, and step-children Suzanne, Peggy, and Patricia Layton. When the family returned to Safford, Joan began working for Safford Builders as a bookkeeper and again, she worked for 10 years before retiring. 

Joan Hill Layton

Joan was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many capacities: Primary teacher, Jr. Sunday School teacher, Relief Society teacher and a visiting teacher.

She is survived by her son, Christopher Layton, of Houston, Texas; daughters, Suzanne Shurtz, of Mojave Valley, and Patricia Layton, of Mesa, and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Joan was proceeded in death by her loving husband, Junior Grant Layton, Peggy Ozment, and just recently, her daughter, Ellen Payne.

Services for Joan will be held Friday, May 3, at McDougal Caldwell Funeral Chapel. A viewing will start at 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., with interment to follow in the Thatcher Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of McDougal’s Caldwell Funeral Chapel & Gila Valley Crematory.  Online condolences may be extended at www.caldwellfunerlachapel.com.