Ron Layland

Funeral services for Marvin Ronald “Ron” Layland, 78, of Cleburne, Texas will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 8, 2023 at the Cleburne First Seventh-day Adventist Church with Pastor Tony Torres officiating.  Burial will follow in Greenacres Memorial Park.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. Friday, April 7, 2023 at Rosser Funeral Home.

Serving as pallbearers will be Ken Frieson, Ron Greenthaler, Alan Beebe, Raymond Vasquez, Darrell Davis, and Jeremy Longoria.  Honorary pallbearers are Fred Bennett, Tom Dugger, Ed Carroll, Jerry Cash, and Bob Brown.

Ron passed away on Sunday, April 2, 2023 at his home.  He was a lifelong resident of Cleburne, born August 18, 1944, the son of Daisy (Chatfield) and Marvin Layland.

He attended school at Southwestern Jr. College in Keene, Texas as well as Fort Worth College and Tarrant County Jr. College earning Associate Degrees in electronics and management.

Ron met Mary Alice McNatt through their mutual work in the Lions Club.  They were married on September 2, 2010 in Cleburne.  He was a member and served as a Head Deacon at Cleburne First Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Ron was a gifted entrepreneur owning businesses Layland LP Gas Company in Cleburne, La Media Sportsman’s Lodge in South Texas, North Star Fishing Lodge in Alaska, and several businesses in Mexico.

But Ron’s true gift was a gift of service and he shared that gift not only in his community, but also on state and international levels.

In Cleburne Ron served on the Housing Rehabilitation Committee, as Director of the Layland Museum, as Board President of the Cleburne Regional Airport, and on the Cleburne Railroad Museum Board.

He was an Ambassador Emeritus and served as President of the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce where he founded Cleburne on the Rise, Balloon Festival and amid other honors was awarded the Recipient of the Wall of Fame Award.

Ron served Cleburne Community Education where he formed the Johnson County Literacy Volunteers Association, Meals on Wheels of North Central Texas, United Way, Walls Regional Hospital, and the Cleburne Christian Business Club.  

He served as President and was a Life Member of the Cleburne Yellow Jacket Booster Club and was instrumental in turning the Booster Club into an All Sports Booster Club.

But anyone who knew Ron knew that his passion was for the Cleburne Lions Club where he had 46 years of perfect attendance starting in May of 1976.  Over the years he held a slate of offices including President, Vice President, and Director.  He started four of the Lions Club main fundraisers: White Cane, Rattlesnake Roundup, Wild Game Dinner and Auction, and the Annual Truck Raffle.  For his service he was awarded many accolades including being twice named Lion of the Year and a Melvin Jones Fellow.

In District 2E2 Ron served in many positions including Governor, Lt. Governor, Leader Dogs for the Blind Chairman, and Texas Lions Foundation Trustee.  He held Life Memberships of Organ & Eye Bank (Golden Life), Julien C. Hyer Youth Camp, and the Drug Awareness Council.  Among his District awards was Progressive (7 Diamonds) Melvin Jones Fellow, 100% District Governor, and Ron was an Honoree at the Tom Gillis Annual Chicken Dinner/Fort Worth Founder Lions Club.

On the state level, Ron held Life Memberships in the Texas Lions Camp Century Club (Charter Member) and Texas Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center.  He holds the state record of 17 Guide Dog Trainees in a year and the most funds raised in a year.  Ron was awarded the Texas Lions Foundation Fellow (the 1^st Fellow in Texas), Lions World Service for the Blind, Order of the Silver Cane, and the Founders Tribute Award (1st given in the state of Texas).

Ron’s service was not limited to Texas or the United States.  He was Ambassador to the Lions of B-2, Mexico.  He was co-founder of CEREDIL (Eyeglass Recycling Center in Chihuahua City, Mexico.  He completed an ENT & Eye Clinic in Belize City and furnished equipment for an eyeglass finishing lab in Guatemala.  Ron initiated a cornea transplant for nine year old Venus Cobb in Belize City.

Ron was awarded the International Presidents Award and the International Leadership Award; just two of the many international honors given to Ron in tribute to his outstanding leadership and commitment to the Lions Club.

Finally, leaving a legacy of service and dedication, Ron established and assisted in the forming of over 100 Charter Clubs in Texas, Mexico, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, resulting in several thousand new members.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, William and Charles Layland.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Alice Layland of Cleburne; son, Marty Layland also of Cleburne; daughter, Tina Layland Schlender and husband, David of Vera Beach, Florida; step-daughter, Dawn Holt of Grapevine, Texas; granddaughter, Kendra Cope of Vera Beach; sister, Mary Layland of Cleburne; and many other family members and many many friends.

In lieu of flowers memorials in Ron’s name may be made to Lions International or Meals on Wheels North Central Texas.

See below for a complete list of Ron's service and awards:

LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Local:

•  Cleburne Lions Club        (46) years perfect attendance                                              May,  1976

•  Honorary Member of Chihuahua City Lions Club (B-2, Mexico)
•  Honorary Member of Saginaw Lions Club (2-E2, Texas)

• Offices Held:

                President                (100%)                                                                                                   1983-1984

                Secretary               (100%)  5-times                  

                Director

                1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Vice President

                Adviser to the Board of Directors                                                                                     1990-2009

•  Started (4) of Cleburne Lions Club  Main Fund Raisers

                White Cane, Rattlesnake Roundup, Wild Game Dinner & Auction

                & Annual Truck Raffle

•  Awards & Honors:

                100% President                                                                                                                    1983-1984

                Melvin Jones Fellow                                                                                                            1984

                Lion of the Year   (2)                                                                                                           1985-1986 & 1986-87

                100% Secretary   (5)                                                                          

District  2E2:      

•  Offices Held:

                Zone Chairman                                                                                                                   1984-1985           

                Deputy District Governor     (Region Chair.)                                                                   1985-1986

                L.C.I.F. Chairman                                                                                                               1986-1987

                Organ & Eye Bank                                                                                                              1986-1989

                1st V P Organ & Eye Bank                                                                                                              1987-1988             

                Lieutenant Governor          (V.D.G.)                                                                                  1988-1989

                District Governor                                                                                                                 1989-1990

                Extension Chairman                                                                                                           1991-1997

                International Understanding                                                                                             1991-1996

                Leader Dogs for the Blind  Chairman                                                                              1996-1999

                Retention Chairman                                                                                                           2002-2003

            Alert Chairman                                                                                                                    2018-2019

            Texas Lions Foundation Trustee                                                                                      2019- Present

•  Life Memberships:

                Organ & Eye Bank  (Golden Life)

                Julien C. Hyer Youth Camp

                Drug Awareness Council

•  Awards & Honors:

                 Progressive (7 Diamonds) Melvin Jones Fellow

                100 % District Governor

                Honoree / Tom Gillis Annual Chicken Dinner / Ft Worth Founder Lions Club 1997

State:

•  Offices Held:

                MD-2 Membership Chairman                                                                                          1993-1994

                MD-2 Leader Dogs for the Blind, Chairman                                                                  1996-1999

                                Holds record for 17 Guide Dog Trainees in a year

                                Holds record for most Funds raised in a year

                MD-2 Eyeglass Recycling Program, International Liaison                                          1998-2006

                MD-2 Retention Chairman                                                                                                             2001-2005

•  Life Memberships:

                Texas Lions Camp, Texas Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center

                Texas Lions Camp Century Club, Charter Member                                                 1983-Present

      Awards & Honors:

                Texas Lions Foundation Fellow  ( 1st Fellow in Texas), Ed Flood Award

                Lions World Service for the Blind

                Order of Silver Cane  5years, Presidents Council

                Roy Kumpe Society, President’s Council, & Attainer Sponsor              

                Leader Dogs for the Blind              

                Founders Tribute Award (1st in Texas)

International:

•  Ambassador to the Lions of B-2, Mexico                                                                           

•  Co-Founder of CEREDIL ( Eyeglass Recycling Center in Chihuahua City, Mexico

•  Completed Ear, Nose, Throat & Eye Clinic in Belize City

•  Initiated the Cornea transplant for 9yr old Venus Cobb in Belize City

•  Furnished Equipment for an Eyeglass finishing lab in Guatemala

•  USA / Canada Leadership Forum and Discussion Leader                                                11 Years

•  International Night Speaker @ River Oaks Lions Club                                                     1996

        Topic “Because Someone Cared”

•  Awards & Honors:

1   International Presidents Award                                                                                               1990

1   International Leadership Award                                                                                             2003

                 7   International Presidents Certificate of Appreciation                                         Vary

             26   Extension Awards (assisted in 80 + other clubs)                                                     1976-

                 7   International PDG Extension Awards                                                                    Vary

                 2  International Relations Awards               

                 2   International Membership Growth Awards                                                          1983-84 & 91-92

                      Membership Award “Universal Key” (350)                                          }              1976-Present

                                Will be presented at District & State Conventions

                      Guiding Lion Award, Club Re-Building Award

  Establishment and assisted in the forming of over 100 Charter Clubs in Texas, Mexico, New Mexico,   Oklahoma, and Louisiana, resulting in several thousand new members.

     COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

City of Cleburne:

• Housing Rehabilitation Committee                                                                               1982-1984
• Layland Museum Director                                                              1985-1989            2018-Present
• Cleburne Regional Airport / President of the Board                1990-1994            2014-2018
• Cleburne Railroad Museum                                                                                            2020- Present

Cleburne Chamber of Commerce:

•  Ambassador’s Club                                                           Emeritus                               1976-2009
•  Ambassador’s Club President                                                                                        1981-1983
•  Board of Directors                                                                                                           1992      
•  Founder & Chairman for Cleburne on the Rise, Balloon Festival                      1990-1999

                #1 Fund Raiser

• Chairman of the Membership Committee                                                                   1991-1996

              Record for the most new members in a year.

              Record for the most funds collected in a year.

• Recipient of the Wall of Fame Award.

                (Highest honor for a member)

• Special Award by the Board of Directors, con-current Chairman,

                Contact Club  and Cleburne on the Rise, Balloon Festival                                         1997

Cleburne Community Education:

•  Advisory Committee                                                                                                        1980-1985
•  President                                                                                                                             1984-1985
•  Formed the Johnson County Literacy Volunteers Association                             1984-1985

Cleburne Yellow Jacket Booster Club

•  Life Member
•  President                                                                                                                             1984-1985
•  Turned Booster Club into an All Sports Booster Club

Meals on Wheels North Central Texas:

•  Board Member                                                                                                                  1979-1985/2019- Present
•  President                                                                                                                             1984-1985
•  Raised $50,000.00 the last 2 years on the Board                                                      1984-1985
•  Meals on Wheels delivery                                                                                               1978 - 2022

United Way:

•  Volunteered                                                                                                                        1980-1986

Walls Regional Hospital

•  Professional  Advisory Committee Member                                                              1996-2004

Cleburne Christian Business Club

•  Member                                                                                                                               1995-Present      

BUSINESS

•   Xerox Corporation                                                                                                                            1965-1972

                Technical Representative

•  Layland LP-Gas Company                                                                                                            1973-1990

                Owner & Operator

• La Media Sportsman’s Lodge                                                                                                        1990-2018

Owner / Hunting, South Texas

• Owner North Star Fishing Lodge  in Alaska

                Owner El Caballo Bayo / Laylo’s Lounge

                Restaurant, Creel Chihuahua, Mexico

                Owner La Posada De Creel Hotel

Creel Chihuahua, Mexico

• Texas LP-Gas Association

                Board of Directors                                                                                                                  1976-1993

                President                                                                                                                                    1986-1987

                Committee’s:

                                Marketing

                                Technical & Standards

                                Long Range Planning

                                Railroad Commission Advisory

Texas Legislative /  Responsible for the passage of (five) 5 Major Industry Bills, during four (4) sessions in Austin