Dan W. Layne

DAN WEBB LAYNE
EDINBURG – Dan Webb Layne, 91, passed away peacefully at his home on July 13, 2017, at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg.
Dan was born on December 25, 1925 in Indianapolis, Indiana or Dr.’s Lloyd E. and Florence Webb Layne. Dan moved to the valley in 1934 where the family resided in Mission, Texas. After one year in Texas the family moved back to Indiana. Dan completed his high school diploma from Crawfordsville High School in 1943 and received a scholarship to Wabash College where he graduated in three years in 1946. He was proud that he paid for his tuition from the money he earned from playing piano. In 1947 the family purchased some land in Edinburg, and moved back to Texas. Dan worked at the bookkeeping department at the old Casa de Palmas, until he was drafted into the US Army during the Korean War. He was assigned to the 46th Engineering Construction Division at Fort Sill, Fort Hood, and Fort Polk, and was honorably discharged in Sept. 1952 with the rank of Sergeant. He was retained in the Army Reserve for 4 ½ years. Returning to Edinburg, he went to work for Lee Walker Oilfield Construction in the bookkeeping department and soon became office manager. When the business closed in 1973, Dan kept himself busy by playing with dance bands for a few years. He played organ and piano at St. Joseph Catholic Church for 57 years. While playing for the church, Dan met Frankie Jo Chancey, a young blind lady who ran the Courthouse Coffee Shop. Frankie sang with the choir and once asked Dan if he could play for her at one of the choir performances. She became the love of his life. Frankie and Dan were married on Sept. 12, 1965, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Dan enjoyed a full life with Frankie Jo for 52 years of which you would never see one without the other, truly best friends for life. Dan and Frankie ran the Courthouse Coffee Shop from 1973 to 1987, even after retiring, they were asked to go back and fill in for the new owners when they were needed. Dan and Frankie Jo played and sang for hundreds of weddings, funerals, and quinceaneras. Dan also kept books for Beverly’s Hardware for 45 years. Dan has been a member of St. Joseph Parish for over 50 years. He belonged to the American Legion, he was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis for about 50 years and the Knights of Columbus for 53 years.
Dan is preceded in death by his parents, Dr.’s Lloyd E. and Florence Webb Layne; his brother, Don Layne; and his sister, Dorothy Amstadt.
He is survived by his wife, Frankie Jo Chancey; his nephews, David and wife Renie Amstadt and Dan Stevens; his nieces, Deborah Amstadt Chavez all of Coca, Florida; two great-nephews and two great-great-nieces.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m., with a 7 p.m. rosary Monday, July 17, 2017, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Edinburg. Funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Edinburg. Interment will follow at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen.
Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.