Obituary Peoria- Ray Layton, 71, of Peoria died at 5:28 pm Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at his home. He was born November 24, 1938 in Straven, AL to Ed and Annie (Lovell) Layton. He married Nancy Kinder in 1963 in Peoria. He later married Marla Camp on October 28, 1971 in Lewistown, IL. She survives. Also surviving are his children, Kevin Layton of Texas, Lynn Rebholz of Peoria, Debbie (Jay Spann) Moritz of Marquette Heights, Wayne (Vicki) Simmons of North Pekin, Warren (Lori Goeltz) Simmons of Texas, Kirk (Barbara) Yates of Marquette Heights, Mike (Rae Lynn) Yates of Peoria, David (Marie) Yates of South Carolina, and Danny Yates of California; twenty four grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren; and one sister Helen (James) Zeilmann of Missouri. He was preceded in death by one son, Terry Layton, two brothers and one sister. Ray was the owner and operator of Layton Construction in Peoria from 1972-2000. He was a member of Giant Goose Ranch in Canton. Ray had the gift of storytelling and obliged eagerly, especially when it came to fishing stories. Surrounded by his large and extended family, it was always the little kids and dogs that were at his feet. Ray was a bigger than life character who will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him. For those who knew him best, he graduated on July 13th! A private gathering will be held among his family and friends. Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in East Peoria is assisting the family with cremation, which has been accorded.