Nellie J. Layman

Nellie June Layman, 85, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015 at the University of Saint Louis Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

She was born April 28, 1929 in Cambria, Illinois to Denny Howell and Edith (Beavers) Howell.  She was an avid gardener and took great pleasure in attracting and feeding hummingbirds. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

She was small in stature, but she was a pillar of strength for her two children, four grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. She instilled the importance of kindness, compassion and family, while leading by example to teach determination, persistence, work ethic and mental toughness.

She married the love of her life, Ralph, on April 12, 1952 at the Bible Fellowship Baptist Church in Carterville, Illinois. The two were inseparable for 62 years and had a life full of love.

Nellie or “mama”, as referred to by her grandchildren, will be greatly missed by family, friends and those who knew her best.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Layman; three brothers, Howard, Carl, Homer; five sisters, Martha Keller, Wilma Tindle, Shella Christian, Dorothy Hodges, and Ella Craddock; and three half brothers, Hershel Howell, Fred Howell, and Kenneth Vaughn.

Survivors include one son; Bob Layman and wife, Barbara, of Dongola and one daughter; Debra Carter and husband, Rick, of Anna; four grandchildren, Jason Layman and wife, Mindy, of Pickerington, Ohio, Chris Layman and wife, Melissa, of Fort Branch, Indiana, Ryan Carter and wife, Torie, of Anna, Cole Carter and girlfriend, Taylor Tripp, of Anna; four great-grandchildren, Kali and Wyatt Layman of Fort Branch, Indiana, Connor and Eleanor Layman of Pickerington, Ohio; sister, Betty Palmer of Hurst; sister-in-law, Donna Howell of Carterville; brother, Jim Howell and wife, Maxine, of Carterville.

Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 in the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna with Rev. John Warren officiating. Interment was in the Hill Crest Cemetery in Carterville. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Envelopes will be available in the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna.

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Nellie J. Layman