Obituary of Sandra Layton

Sandra Stephens Layton Apalachin: Sandra Stephens Layton, of Apalachin, passed away on Thursday, April 25, 2013, after falling ill with a very rare and aggressive cancer. Her father, H. Gerald Stephens and a brother, Dana, predeceased her. Sandy is survived by her husband of 23 years, Greg; daughter, Tracy (Brian) Harders; son, Christopher(Megan) Layton; four grandsons, Daniel Woodard, Corey Harders, and Kenneth and Jacob Layton; mother, Joann Stephens; and four siblings, Cheryl (Bob Piros) Stephens of Johnson City, Sheila (Ken Hull) Stephens of Vestal, Mark (Lisa Gould) Stephens of Endicott, and Eric (Lori) Stephens of Spencer; and Bernie Layton, a treasured member of her family. Sandy had many loves. She loved her husband and the fun they had together. They were often seen traveling around the area in one of the old cars they collected. Together they owned a business designing and welding structures for the garden: fences, arbors, trellises, and towers. They loved flea markets and antique shows and collected many unique items. Sandy loved to travel and visited Ireland, Switzerland, England, and France and, with Greg, explored the Caribbean, Tahiti, the American west, especially San Diego, and Daytona Beach every winter. Her dream trip was going to Germany and Austria to visit the Christmas Markets. She fell hopelessly in love. Sandy loved her family and many friends very much. She cared nothing about a person's race, religion, or sexual orientation and everything about their heart and spirit. All who loved her knew she adored her "furry children". She was very proud that she and Greg had rescued as many pussycats as they were able to and that their kids were a model of social grace. The kids loved company as much as Sandy did and were always quick to warm a friendly lap. Sandy dearly loved her grandparents, Joseph and Anna Ashcraft, and Howard and Emily Stephens. She was very proud of her ancestry and loved researching her roots, traveling to visit the countries of their origin and finding family gravesites. Sandy loved her home and the land they lived on. What started many years ago as one simple project, building a bookcase, turned into a love for tools, many woodworking projects and several additions to the house she had helped build. She loved to tile and do stonework, plasterwork, stained glass, paint, sew, decorate, and recycle vintage finds into something new. Her and Greg's nickname was Sanford and Sandy. Sandy funded her many loves by working at Lockheed Martin for 32 years. Sandy loved her life but she accepted her death gracefully, never feeling sorry for herself. She knew she is in God's hands and he would take her to a special place. She just really hoped there are cats there. A special thank you to Dr. Susan Choi and Karen Trauer and staff, Apalachin Guthrie, Apalachin Pharmacy, Amy Healander Hospice, Pam Kilpatrick Hospice, Jeanne Wagner Hospice. Expressions of sympathy in Sandy's memory may be made to the Animal Care Council in Endicott or Stray Haven in Waverly. A memorial service will be held at the Coleman & Daniels Funeral Home, 6519 St. Rt. 434 in Apalachin, NY on Sunday at 3 p.m. Calling hours will be on Sunday from 1 p.m. until the time of service.