A Tribute to Dian Layton
Dian Layton: My daughter calls her extraordinary. My son calls her “the always seeker.” My wife, Jen, calls her devoted.
Dian is peacefulness. She is kindness. She is love. She is thankfulness. She is gratitude. She is joy, and she is strength beyond measure.She was a source of extraordinary love. But not just human love; perfect love—as Jesus loved.The first time I met Dian, I was maybe six years old. She visited our house in Pennsylvania. The first song she taught me was "Oooky Pooky Spooky Fear." I was having nightmares, and she taught me and my brothers that song. We were so energized by her song that we ran upstairs and jumped on our parents bed singing it over, and over, and over!
Oooky pooky spooky fear,You have no right to come near!
In Jesus name get out of here!
Fear, be gone!
And I was cured of my nightmares!
Dian told me a story of how my father heard her speaking at a church conference and had asked to meet with her. She was informed that a publisher wanted to see her. But she was busy with all the kids. She was the only one responsible for them at the moment and it was supremely hectic and difficult, so she simply said, “I can't meet with him right now.”
She said that my father would call her on the phone on a regular basis in the weeks and months following to share his prophetic insight that she would write books that would touch lives for generations. In fact, my brothers and I were on the cover of the first version of her book Soldiers with Little Feet, and her journey into writing began.
Dian's family moved to our small town in Shippensburg Pennsylvania, where Dian became an administrator, then an editor, and a writer. And eventually, she wrote a series of curriculum, based on a book called The God Chasers, where she incorporated some Seeker Stories.
During her family's time in Shippensburg, Dian was strongly involved in our book publishing ministry and was a critical part of our ability to reach millions of people with the written word. Then the opportunity came where she would write illustrated stories for her Seeker Series.She recently published the song story—as she called it—Oooky Pooky. She just finished her newest book, Keep on Keepin’ On. She has four more outlines left unfinished. She overflowed with creativity.
Dian was a mentor and a motherly figure to my wife over the years. She even called my wife in the evenings or during weekly long drives back from her own doctor appointments just to talk and pray a practice that continued even to just a couple of weeks ago.
Dian has always been a part of our family. So much so, that she would even insert herself into family drama as a peacemaker, just to be a blessing to us all. Talk about a woman of many hats! Wait, she didn't just have hats in her stories—God gave her many, many hats.In Dian's visit to Shippensburg last year, she spent time visiting with our family. She prayed over our ministry. She prayed over our home. We had been praying about a pastor to bless our home, and Dian graciously stepped into that role for us. She shared some of her original stories with our children. She shared with a new generation of children at a local church. They learned who Huga Wugga is, and they fell in love with her too!
During this time, Dian continued to work and really had a heart to try to get on to more church stages and share with more children. And a very big stage opened to her: Dian was featured on a TV show, It's Supernatural! which broadcasts on Christian networks across North America. She was able to be on a massive stage, reach millions of homes, and touch millions of families!
Now, a little more personal: Dian always encouraged me to explore my creative side. She helped me write and record my very own happy birthday song that I wrote for my wife. She was always lifting others up, always giving of her time and energy generously.Even through her experience with cancer and the pain she lived with, she remained positive, optimistic, full of hope and happiness. She would often say “Go back to the Scripture. Go back to his promises. Stay faithful positive!”
Yes, my daughter calls her extraordinary. My son calls her the “always seeker.” My wife calls her devoted.
Dian is peacefulness. She is kindness. She is love. She is thankfulness. She is gratitude. She is joy, and she is strength beyond measure.
Dian would often say, “No matter how far away you are, I'm sending you a hug on three!”
Today Dian, I'm sending you a hug—one… two… three!I love you. We'll miss you.---To make a donation to the Layton Family Benevolence fund, click here and select "Layton Family Benevolence Fund" from the "fund" drop-down menu.