Marva Christiansen Layton

Marva Christiansen Layton, 82 of Taylor Idaho, passed away in Idaho Falls on August 3, 2014, surrounded by family.

She was born October 15, 1931 to Gerald Niels Christiansen and Florence Ida Wheeler Christiansen on the family farm in Moreland Idaho. She was the fifth of nine brothers and sisters. Marva was in the first graduating class of Snake River High School in 1949. In 1951, she received her teaching certificate from Rick's College. While she was a student at Rick’s she met and became close friends with Joanne Layton whose brother Richard was serving an LDS mission in Canada. Upon his return they met at Joanne’s wedding.

Richard Harold Layton proposed to Marva on Valentine’s Day of 1951 and they were married later that year on June 15. They raised four children on the family farm in Taylor, Idaho. During that time she returned to school to become a licensed practical nurse. She graduated from Eastern Idaho Technical College in 1978, and worked as a pediatric nurse at LDS Riverview Hospital. Later she retired from Behavioral Health in Idaho Falls. Marva lived in Taylor for sixty of her eighty-two years.

Marva was always there to support her family and community. She cared about everyone. She loved to travel with her husband and family, and was an active member of the LDS Church, served in many callings, and loved to play the piano. Marva had a great sense of humor and a way of catching people off-guard by saying clever funny things unexpectedly.

Marva is survived by her sons, Monte (Jesusa) Layton, of Idaho Falls, and Chris (Susan) Layton, of Idaho Falls; her siblings, DeVar (Dorothy) Christiansen, of Moreland, Lois (LaMar) Olsen, of Moreland, and Ida (Alvin) Arave, of Coltman; twelve grandchildren, and twelve great-children.

Marva was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard Harold Layton; two children; Merilee and Robert; siblings Lowell, Rex, Clyde, Howard, and Beth.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 8, 2014 at the Taylor Ward Chapel (1250 North 1101 East) in Shelley. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6:00 till 8:00 p.m. at Nalder Funeral Home (110 West Oak Street) in Shelley and Friday morning from 9:30 till 10:40 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Taylor Cemetery.