Whitewright, Texas -- Christopher Ray Layman was born on February 1, 1961 to Robert and Norma Layman in Whitewright, TX. He was the youngest son, and second youngest of five children. He met his wife, Paula Caldwell of Leonard, in 1978 and they were inseparable. They married soon after their graduation in 1979.

He graduated Whitewright high school in 1979, and later attended Grayson County College, working towards his degree in drug and alcohol abuse counseling, where he made the Dean's List with a perfect 4.0 every semester. He was also 29 years sober from alcoholism, and wanted to help others with the same disease.

He and Paula adopted their first child, Miracle, on February 4, 1987, and then became pregnant with their son, David, just months later. They never had any more children after him, but they took in and helped raise several other local children that were friends with their kids.

Chris was a jack of all trades, and good at so many things. He loved his dogs and his motorcycle more than some people. He also loved to teach people how to do things, especially his kids and their friends. He loved God, and loved to talk about religion, politics, history, and he had a very unique and wonderful sense of humor. He owned his own business with Paula, starting in 1995, called Layman Lawn Care, and he was still running it until he had his first seizure on April 25, 2024.

Chris passed away at his home on August 31, 2024 surrounded by his wife and children, after four months of battling stage IV lung cancer. He is preceded in death by both parents, Robert and Norma Layman, and two grandsons, Draven Dennis and Thaddeus Hasten. He is survived by wife, Paula Layman, children Miracle Hasten and David Layman, three grandchildren Sophia Layman, Irys Dennis, and Zhaine Hasten, and four brothers and sisters Robert Layman, Roy Layman, Geneva Smith, and Jeannie Millspaugh, as well as many other extended family and close friends. 

Memorial services are currently pending completion of cremation.