Lucy Piloian Layer

Lucy Piloian Layer was born Satenig Piloian on June 1st 1928 in a farmhouse in Oviedo Florida, the second of four children to Bedros and Bayzar. Her trajectory in life really started with their journey as immigrants fleeing the Armenian genocide prior to World War I. She never knew grandparents, and the only representatives of her extended family she had were an uncle and aunt who raised one cousin, Ena Greer. Bedros and his brother, as young men, were sent from Armenia to the U.S. early on. Bayzar, although already married, fled on foot with four other young ladies toward the port of Beirut. Once both in the U.S., they settled in central Florida and began a successful farming business. One learns hard work, self-discipline, and perseverance as the child of immigrant farmers. After being re-named “Lucy” by her first grade teacher, she went on to be the only person in her family to earn undergrad and Master’s degrees, both at FSU. She was pursued by and ultimately married William P. “Bud” Layer, who complemented her worldview with his expansiveness, generosity, and sense of adventure. They were both very involved in the Seminole County School system where Lucy taught Algebra at Oviedo High, Lyman High, Sanford Junior High, Lakeview Middle, Seminole High, Lake Brantley, and Lake Mary High schools. She amassed a 31 year teaching career while raising their daughter Laura Lynn and supporting Bud as school administrator and county Superintendent with all of the accompanying obligations for hospitality and entertaining in the home. They were famous for their big parties. And if you did not know already, Layer Elementary School in Winter Springs is named after Bud and Lucy. They made a great team. In retirement she enjoyed her extended family of Bill and Gladys Piloian, John and Carlene Piloian, Al Layer, Rich and Barbra Layer, and 14 nieces and nephews. Lucy traveled throughout the U.S. for the first time and volunteered at Central Florida Regional Medical Center for 27 years as a member of the Auxiliary. After Bud died of cancer in 2003, she maintained the yard and the house herself until health issues intervened. Lucy and Bud were faithful followers of Jesus, and were members initially at First Presbyterian Church of Sanford and then of Markham Woods Presbyterian Church. In her older years she enjoyed word search games, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, vanilla frozen yogurt, and reading the Bible. Lucy loved her home on East Crystal Lake and was blessed to die there on November 28, 2020. Her main goals in life were to be kind, do her best at teaching, have a hospitable home, and follow the God of the Bible; she accomplished all of those. In lieu of flowers please donate to either or both: Medical Campus Outreach Philadelphia, mcophilly.org; be sure to click on Support MCO and Additional Fund. Or mail a check to 1701 Delancey Street Philadelphia PA 19103. Markham Woods Presbyterian Church, mwpcusa.org, Give. Or mail a check to 5210 Markham Woods Road Lake Mary FL 32746.

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