Joyce Louise Thomas Layne
March 30, 1962 – April 28, 2021
Joyce was born on March 30, 1962 in Chardon, Ohio, to Robert "Bob" Thomas and Marcia Pickering Thomas. Raised in Burton, Ohio, she was the fourth of 5 children. Growing up, Joyce participated in 4-H square dancing, was a member of the National Honor Society, played flute and piccolo in the Berkshire High School concert band, and was a Badgerette and cheerleader. Joyce worked at Hamlet Manor as a caregiver during and after high school. Her compassion and patience made her a favorite among the residents. She worked in banking for many years before running an in-home daycare. She then worked for the Kellogg Insurance Agency and most recently, as a private caregiver.
Joyce loved animals, giving to the ASPCA and locally to Rescue Village. She enjoyed gardening, cross-stitch, and spending time with her children and extended family. She loved and found peace by the beach, and especially enjoyed trips with her family. Joyce had great compassion for both animals and people; she loved connecting with others, from the Cleveland Clinic nurses she saw every week, to her neighbors and co-workers. She was always eager to listen to others and enjoyed learning about those she knew.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents; brother Jeff Thomas; her mother and father-in-law Shirley and Eugene Layne; sister-in-law Debbie Thomas, and cousin Danny Pickering. Her legacy lives on through her children, Bryan Layne and Mandy Layne (Spencer Tobin), from her marriage to Tracy Layne; grandson Oliver Tobin; siblings Cindy McGill (Terry), Greg Thomas (Yvonne), and Janice Thomas (Brian Stafford); sister-in-law Lorrie Considine (Jeff); Uncle Gary Pickering (Anne); cousin Jeff Pickering (Shannon); nieces and nephews Shannon Kuznia (Thom), Stefani Schutz (Patrick), Alec and Jared Bost, Brendan Thomas (Hannah), Colleen Daubert (Tom), Dylan and Walker Stafford; and great-nieces Harper and Saige Kuznia, and Avery Schutz.
A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held from 2:30 – 5:30 PM Sunday, May 2, 2021 at the Education Building in the Geauga County Fair Grounds. 14373 N Cheshire St, Burton, OH 44021.
Joyce’s Private Funeral Service will be livestreamed at 1:00 PM Sunday, May 2, 2021 at Sly Family Funeral Home Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/Sly-Family-Funeral-Home-1445332619092130
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Joyce may be made to:
OutRun Ovarian Cancer
Geauga County Rescue Village
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Joyce L. (Thomas) Layne, please visit our floral store.