Lois Layton

A service to celebrate the life of Lois Layton, 92, will be held on October 25 at 2:00 p.m. at Bustard's Funeral Home in Casper. Death came peacefully on October 15, 2014, at home. Lois, the daughter of Jim and Opal Bliss, was born February 18, 1922, in Woods County, Oklahoma. She was educated at home for several years because most of the families in the ranching community only spoke German. She later attended a one-room schoolhouse in Lookout, Oklahoma, followed by high school in Alva, Oklahoma, and graduation from Northwestern Oklahoma State College in 1943. Lois was a cowboy's daughter, learning to ride, rope and work cattle with her Dad, one of the best cattlemen in the country. It was eggs and chickens, however, that provided for her education during the horrible years in the heart of the Dust Bowl, and gave her the basis for her lifetime of work rehabilitating primarily large birds of prey. Lois served her country as a "Rosie the Riveter" in Wichita, Kansas, building bombers used by the Army Air Corps in World War II. Her attention to detail and work ethic earned her a promotion to supervisor after one week on the line. Lois moved to Washington after the war and became active in the John Muir Society, climbing mountains and developing her lifelong love for the outdoors. Her mother became very ill and Lois returned to the ranch to care for her. In the late 1950's, she headed for Alaska to begin anew. Fortunately, she left in October and the weather turned ugly quickly. She stopped in Casper because there was a mountain. Although she saw most of the world, she never made it to Alaska. She met Dr. Scott and helped found Murie Audubon. She also met the true love of her life, Frank Layton. They were married on March 8, 1956, at Christ Methodist Church in Casper. Together, they backpacked through Wyoming and the Rockies, as well as wilderness areas throughout the United States. Their world travels included Antartica, Peru, Argentina, China, Tasmania, Uganda, Australia, and Mexico. They met headhunters and helped wildlife preservation groups throughout the world. Her life's work, however, was rehabilitating birds. From pelicans to bald eagles, first Lois and then Lois and Frank became the go-to people for injured raptors. They worked closely with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to identify and care for injured birds throughout the state. Her work resulted in two trips to the White House where she and Frank were honored for their efforts by two Presidents. She and Frank were also among the initial six inductees into the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame in 2004. They were long-time leaders in Murie Audubon and were members of numerous conservation organizations. While Lois appreciated the awards, her true reward was taking a near-lifeless bird, nursing it back to health, teaching it to reintegrate into its flock and, ultimately, releasing it back into the wild. She spoke to these powerful raptors softly, just as she had seen her mother speak to chickens during the Dust Bowl Days. Her quiet, caring approach saved hundreds of birds over the last 40 years. Lois will be rejoining Frank and her family in heaven. She is survived by a step-son, Gregory, and his family; and two nephews, Jim and Eric Darnell of El Paso, Texas, and their families. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Trust Fund, 5400 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82006; the Murie Audubon Society, P.O. Box 2112, Casper, Wyoming, 82602; or a conservation organization of the donor's choice.

Service

Saturday, October 25, 2014 2:00pm

Bustard's Funeral Home

600 CY Avenue

Casper, Wyoming 82601