John Joseph Layden

John Joseph Layden was born March 6, 1924, in Forney, TX, the son of Martin Patrick Layden and Gertrude Marie Campbell Layden. John had two brothers, James Martin Layden and Andrew James Layden, and a sister, Gertrude Marie Layden Sonntag. John was a Forney Jackrabbit and played football at Forney High School. He was awarded a football scholarship from the University of Texas in Austin. In November of 1942, John enlisted with the United States Navy and spent three years in the south Pacific on board the USS Lexington, Enterprise, Yorktown, Bunker Hill, and Shangri La. In 1948, John met Neva Lorraine Bateman and they got married in February of 1949. They had four children including Lynn Layden Fanning, of St. James City, FL, Joan Layden, Kathryn Layden, and a son, John Layden, Jr., who all live the Dallas area. John was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, bicycling, and scuba diving with his daughter Joan. John loved his family deeply and will be dearly missed by those who survive him. Family will receive friends from 6p - 7p, Thursday, March 31, 2016 with Rosary at 7pm at Sparkman-Crane Funeral Home, 10501 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218. Funeral Mass will be held at 10am, Friday, April 1, 2016 at St Pius X Catholic Church, 3030 Gus Thomasson Rd, Dallas, TX. 75228. Burial to follow at Oakland Cemetery, Terrell, TX.