Margaret DeJaynes

MARGARET LOUISE WELLS

LAYER DEJAYNES

New London

Margaret Louise Wells Layer DeJaynes, residing at New London Specialty Care, passed from this world Sunday morning, May 16, 2021, at the age of 99. Her spirit resides now with her beloved father and mother and so many relatives, friends and family. Her rewards surely will be bountiful.

She was preceded in death by her sister and confidante, Jean Shook; brother, John (her Buddy); and infant sister, Dorothy May.

She is survived by her son, Ron Layer (Cathryn) in New London; and daughters, Terry Fischer of Mount Pleasant and Hazel Lewis of St. Paul, Minn. She is also survived by grandchildren, Jackie Brennan of Spring Hill, Fla., Michael (Jamie) Layer of Arvada, Colo., Bradley Layer of Little Canada, Minn., and Suzanne (Akwasi) Gyabbah of Iowa City. She also left behind so many who she loved without reservation, great-grandchildren, stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren, nieces and great nieces. Lynn Ellsworth and Becky Williams, the daughters of her sis (Jean), and Robin and Tom, the children of her brother (John). Jonas Layer, Mary Alice, Dallas and Tom Hennessee were a huge part of her life as was her BFF Jean VanSyoc. On the DeJayne's side her surviving step granddaughter and stepdaughter Denise as well as Cindy Springer, Deb and Diane, Paul and Gary, Lowell, and many others brought her purpose and joy.

Born in 1922 in Springville, Iowa, she graduated high school and assisted her father Claude Cheyenne Wells while also giving piano lessons. Claude contracted sepsis while attending dental school, suffering paraplegia then graduating and practicing in Springville, Iowa. Her mother Hazel Grace Allen Wells, was a natural musician and poet as was her father and both siblings. Her parents passed at an early age. Her mother at 36 and father at 50 years of age.

Margaret married Arnold Layer in Cedar Rapids in 1941. When they divorced, she moved with her two children, Ronnie and Hazel, to the Mount Pleasant area and lived with Uncle Jim and Aunt Bea Cornick on the farm. Soon after, she delivered a baby girl, Terry in Utah, and there Margaret contracted polio. With extensive six month hospital recovery efforts, she returned to Mount Pleasant, where she worked and nurtured her two Iowa kids. She would reunite with Terry later in life. She worked at the Princess Café in MountPleasant then worked as the sole employee of Henry County Selective Service. She later worked for several years in the Henry County Court House, then followed that with many years at MHI as Executive Secretary to the Administrator. During most of these years, she worked at the Iris Restaurant waiting tables and typing term papers for clueless college students. Life was sometimes difficult as she mentored, entertained, cried with, laughed with, fed, transported and lovingly directed her children. (Who at times resisted all these aforementioned mommy efforts). Her whole life was wrapped around her family and music. Boy did she love music. She sang one song at a dance for the traveling Lawrence Welk band in Cedar Rapids and was offered an audition which she turned down. She and her sister (both with cultured and true singing voice) sang in the Sweet Adeline chorus then formed a local quartet. Later the " Gala Tones" would bring home a National Championship trophy which was followed with a USO tour of U.S. Army hospitals in the Middle-East. Her greatest thrill was singing at Carnegie Hall with the quartet. She played piano, sang and served in her little home church, Pleasant Hill, and then at First Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant. Her heart remained with the congregation of the New London Christian Church until her passing.

She met Arnold DeJaynes in Mount Pleasant in the 1970s and they dated for several years, and were married on June 13, 1983. They then moved into Arnold's home in New London, where they enjoyed motorcycling, friendships, square dancing, traveling, relatives and a good belly laugh. Fighting macular degeneration, Margaret helped as she was able, in the office and at home, nursing Arnold through a life-threatening illness. They were both longtime members of New London Christian Church, where Margaret assisted with the music department. Both actively practiced witnessing to others the wonders of Christ and His Grace. Arnold passed on April 15, 2017.

According to her wishes, she will be cremated and her remains have been entrusted to Elliott Chapel in New London. A Celebration of Life will take place in July and her ashes will be interred at Pleasant Hill Cemetery with her late husband at a date and time to be announced. Memorial donations may be made to the Music Department of New London Christian Church. Condolences may be sent to her son: Ron Layer, 600 W. Washington, New London, IA 52645. There will be no visitation until the Celebration of Life. Online condolences may be expressed at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.