Raymond Lee Layne

Funeral services for Raymond Lee Layne, 88, of Tyler will be held Friday, February 17, 2023 at 2:30 pm, with Kevin Burdette officiating. Graveside service will follow and be held at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery in Tyler, under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr. Layne left his earthly body and walked into the arms of Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior, on Sunday, February 12, 2023, in Tyler after living a short while at The Heights Nursing Home. He was born April 7, 1934, in Arp, Texas, to Mr. George Edward Layne and Mrs. Nannie Jane Frazier Layne. He was one of eight children. Raymond was an avid basketball player whose lean frame stood at 6 feet 3 inches tall. He played basketball for Tyler High School, where he graduated and received a scholarship to play in college. A motorcycle accident that year left him unable to play basketball further; he opted to attend a trade and business school where his infectious personality and people skills played a vital role for future business. Raymond started out in the auto paint & body Industry where he first worked at King Chevrolet in Tyler. From there, he went into paint & body sales, becoming a sales rep for RM, and a painter at Riley’s Paint & Body in Longview. He then worked at Bass Chevrolet until he opened Tyler Paint & Body Supply in 1982, where he grew it famously with the knowledge he gained and the relationships formed throughout his many years in the industry. He had many long term, faithful employees that gleaned wisdom from him, giving some their first start in the industry. 27 years later, in 2008, Raymond and Mary Lou would sell the business and retire. To his surprise, the company he sold to, turned around and offered him a job to hang around as “an icon” for the next 10 years in hopes to keep the customer base and work environment he had created. Never ready to really retire, Raymond gladly accepted the offer, keeping his same desk, drinking from the same old coffee cup, answering phones when it got busy, but mostly spending his day “jawing” as Mary Lou called it, with customers old and new. He had “the gift of gab”. People loved him and trusted him. He was still working his “icon job” until the year 2020 at the age of 85. He is survived by his loving wife of almost 52 years, Mary Lou Layne of Tyler, daughter Maura Plemons of Mexia, daughter-in-law Karen Layne of Wortham, daughter Karla Biggers of Waco, son and daughter-in-law Jason & Ashley Layne of Tyler, numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Ray Henry (Hank) Layne and his daughter, Lisa Layne Fletcher. Family Pallbearers honoring Raymond are Casey Layne, Cade Layne, Coy Plemons, Mario Medina, Hudson Layne, and Chris Meadows. Visitation is scheduled before service begins from 1:30-2:30 pm Friday at Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler. In lieu of flowers, gift donations in Raymond’s name may be sent to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701 (www.hospiceofeasttexas.org).

Raymond Lee Layne

April 7, 1934 - February 12, 2023