Cynthia “Cindy” Ann Stillwell Layman, 77, Peru, went home to be with Jesus while at her residence on Wednesday, February 7th, 2024.
Cindy was originally born Faye Colleen on June 23rd, 1946 in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Six weeks later, Donald and Golda “Billie” Stillwell would make the extraordinary decision to adopt the newborn baby girl and change her name to Cynthia Ann.
Cindy was a 1965 graduate of Peru High School. Some of her fondest memories from her wonder years were spent serving up frosty mugs to the locals at the legendary B&K root beer stand. After graduation, Cindy worked at other local businesses: Indiana Bell, Dairy Barn and the bridal shop, Chez Lyzanne. On a cool, spring day in May of 1970, Cindy met a handsome and dapper young man by the name of Donald “Don” Layman just outside the Roxy Theatre. It was a blind date set up by dear friends, Nancy Metzger and Marianne Myers – a date that Don almost didn’t show up for. But as fate would have it, he did, and the rest was history. Don proudly boasts he’s never been able to recall the name of the picture that day as he was far too busy gazing into the big, brown eyes of his beautiful date. A month later, Don proposed, and five months after that he married the love of his life on November 14th, 1970. During their 53 years of marriage, Don would often recount with his jovial chuckle, “Met in May, engaged in June, married in November.”
On January 2nd, 1972, Cindy gave birth to their first child, a son, Alan Edward. With their little family quickly growing, Don and Cindy bought their forever home a short two years later. On November 28th, 1974, Thanksgiving Day none the less, the young couple would welcome their second son into the world, Eric Aaron. Cindy often teased that thanks to Eric, she never got her Thanksgiving meal that year. Oddly enough, Eric was supposed to be named Aaron Eric. But Don, being so over the moon with the birth of another son, gave the wrong name to the doctor and signed the birth certificate before the mistake could be corrected. August 1st, 1977 was a rather peculiar day filled with remarkable events for Wabash Memorial. As the rest of the hospital found themselves in the middle of a bomb threat, Cindy was busy giving birth to a baby girl, Marcie Lynn.
Cindy spent her life devoting herself to Jesus and her family. She enjoyed baking, cooking and cross-stitching. In 1985, she made the beautiful decision to be baptized along with her three children at First Assembly of God where she would later proudly serve the church as a youth leader along with her husband, Don. Cindy developed lifelong friendships with members of Amway Distributions as well as the women of the Indiana State Police while playing Bunko. She was also a sister of the Psi Iota Xi Sorority who were known for making their famous cheese balls. After many years of research, Cindy, with the help of her husband, Don, was finally able to piece together the puzzle of mysterious events surrounding her birth. Her painstaking search for the truth resulted in not only finding but being reunited with her long lost half-sister Gail Seal and half-brother Hubert Gibson. Besides being a loving wife and mother, Cindy was extremely proud to be a small business owner in her hometown of Peru. Her shop, Seeds of Health, was a pillar of holistic health options in her community for over 30 years. Cindy and Don became members of Calvary Church where she spent the rest of her life faithfully serving her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Cindy is survived by her husband, Donald E. Layman, Peru; three children, Alan E. Layman and wife, Michelle, Peru, Eric A. Layman, Fishers, IN, Marcie L. Waters and husband Michael, Lexington, KY; one grandson, Timothy E. Layman, Peru; one brother-in-law, Gene Layman and wife, Janet, Peru; and two “daughters” Lisa Duke, Peru and Laura Fulton, Kokomo, IN.
As a reflection of who Cindy was as a person, she also had many people in her life whom she embraced and included as family: Jane Flora, Elkhart, IN, Mark and Carol Flora, Granger, IN, Tim and Susan Flora, Boulder, CO, Jill and Jamie Hillman, South Bend, IN, Dick Lebsack, Midland, MI, Eric Lebsack, Asheville, NC, Lisa Lebsack Moore, Midland, MI, Leon and Charlene Paul, Newcastle, IN, along with numerous others.
Cindy was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Golda “Billie” Stillwell.
Visitation will be from 11:00am – 1:00pm on Friday, February 16th, 2024 at Calvary Church, 2908 W. 200 N. Peru, Indiana. A celebration of life will begin at 1:00pm at Calvary Church with Pastor Kevin Palmer officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Calvary Church, Peru, Indiana.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Flowers-Leedy Funeral Home. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.FlowersLeedyAllen.com.
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