James "Jim" Layton was born in Georgia and was one of
ten boys born to his parents. Jim was number nine of ten, born in 1931. When Jim was just eight years old, his father was killed in a car accident. Just a few years later, Jim dropped out of school to help care for his mother, and she died when he was just 14 years old. It was decided that the best choice was for him to move to Oregon to live with one of his older brothers. Moving to Corbett, Jim lived a brief time with his brother before moving in with Mrs. Davis, Woody's grandmother. One month later she died, so he went to live with his "second mother" who was Mrs.Ward Evans. Her husband had recently passed and her older children wanted her to have someone in the home with her. It was a great match, and Jim grew very close to Rae Evans who lived on Evans Road. Jim worked on the family daffodil farm and attended school at Springdale Grade School and then Corbett High. Jim signed up for the Marine reserves and was activated in June 1950 before graduating from high school. Heading to CA. for boot camp, Jim was serving at Camp Pendleton until 1955. In between those years, Jim also had served two tours to Korea. On leave in 1953, Jim went home to Corbett and met the girl of his dreams, Nona who was nearly five years younger than him. When finished with his military service in 1955, they married on the last day of that year. Jim and Nona went on to have five children, 12 grandchildren and six great grandchildren! All five of their adult children live in the local area, with three actually in Corbett. Jim and Nona had a busy life- they owned the Corbett Garage service station in Corbett for nine years and then Jim went to work for the BPA as a heavy truck driver for 27 years before retiring in 1993. Nona was a operating room technician for 25 years at Providence Medical Center before retiring. In 1988 she was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and has done well to manage since. One of Jim's favorite memories is driving for BPA all over the NW in areas where the public is not allowed. He delivered power poles, transformers and the oil for them to some very remote and beautiful areas that will always be etched in his mind. Jim spent 15 years as a Corbett volunteer firefighter, many as the Asst. Fire Chief. Today he reflects on his "excellent life" with his favorite friends over breakfast each Wed. morning at the Corbett Country Market. He is a proud member of the "Rusty Zipper Club."
