FRANKLIN - John Kenneth Layne, known as Ken by his family and friends, was born in Greensboro on March 21, 1946, to Huldah Way Layne and John Beaufort Layne.
Ken was a Vietnam veteran and a member of Kappa Alpha Order. He had served as an elder at the First Presbyterian Church and later was a member of the First Methodist Church. His focus was God, family and country, and spent his life serving others.
Ken began his career in banking and found the home he loved when he came to Franklin in 1976. Even though he was well established, he also was venturesome and not afraid of a new challenge, leaving banking to go into nursing. Several years later he was offered yet another opportunity and left nursing to become a teacher at Franklin High School.
Ken was a generous person who was glad to offer financial support to several organizations. He especially liked supporting groups concentrating on youth, contributing regularly to the First Methodist skate park and St. Jude. He also supported CareNet of Franklin along with the Gary Sinise Foundation and Baxter Wood Scholarship at Western Carolina University.
Ken had an outgoing personality and never met a stranger. He was an excellent cook, always on the lookout for finding new recipes to try and menus to serve. He liked seeing new places, and cruising was his favorite way to travel.
Ken wanted to be home when he passed, and he managed to do just that on May 3, 2022. He is survived by his wife, Mary; sons, John Kenneth and James Kevin; and grandchildren, Saundra, Skylar and Jacob.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be to the Gary Sinise Foundation or the Baxter Wood Scholarship at WCU.