Howard Kelly "Bud" Layton

Howard K. “Bud” Layton, 68, Independence, MO passed away May 7, 2015. Funeral services will be 10 am, Tuesday, May 12 at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th St., Independence, MO 64055. Committal services with Full Military Honors will follow at noon at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, MO. Visitation will begin at 9 am before the service at the chapel. The family requests contributions to the KU Medical Center Cancer Center, 4881 N.E. Goodview Circle, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064 or a memorial fund being established in Bud’s name. Bud was born Dec. 3, 1946 in Woodbury, NJ and during his life also lived in Florida, South Carolina North Carolina, Missouri and Texas. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1963 –67 where he served on the U.S.S. Saratoga, Intrepid and Shan-gri-la. He spent two years in Helicopter Squad HS7, was stationed at Norfolk, VA and Cecil Field, FL and cruised the Mediterranean Sea three times. He was a wine & spirits salesman whose career included working for Bergbiglia in Kansas City, Feldman’s Valley Wide Liquors in Harlingen, TX, Mutual Distributing in North Carolina, Lone Star Distributing in Texas, American Wine & Importing in Texas and Liquid Town Liquors in Corpus Christi, TX. His interests included wine, the KC Chiefs, Royals, fishing and being on the beaches of Texas, North Carolina and Florida. He was a kind, caring, giving, tender-hearted man who loved his family and friends and his beloved shelties, Abigail and Buster. Bud was preceded in death by his parents Juanita (Neas) and William Leslie Layton. He is survived by his wife Donna R. Layton, of the home; daughter Michelle Renee (Layton) Black, Raymore, MO; son James Kelly Layton; step-daughters Angel Russ, Tar Heel, NC; Teri Betts, Grain Valley, MO; sister Jeannie Dale (Layton) Book and husband Jim, Lee’s Summit, MO; brothers Carl Layton and wife Nancy, Platte City, MO: Donnie Layton and wife Linda, Dunn, NC and seven grandchildren.