Ernest "Ernie" Gaston Layton Sr.

Ernest “Ernie” Gaston Layton, Sr., age 94, completed his life journey on the afternoon of January 12, 2026 at his home in Amarillo, Texas. Ernie resided in Houston until Feb. 2025.

Ernie was born on February 19, 1931, in Villa Rica, Georgia, to the late Harvey Goodwin Layton and Robbie Lee McCalmon Layton. He was the oldest of four children. Ernie graduated from Hapeville High School in 1949 and attended Georgia Tech, where he earned a degree in Architecture and played football for the GT Yellowjackets. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Navy where he served active duty aboard the USS Beltramie, a supply carrier in the Korean War. He told some pretty great stories about the adventures

aboard and his time as the ship’s navigator. After completing his tour of active duty, he served in the reserves and returned to Georgia Tech to earn a degree in Engineering and then later went on to receive his Professional Engineer designation.

In Atlanta, is also where he met and married Nancy Sue Marlowe. He built the family’s first home in Buckhead and they soon began a family. Ernie and Sue had 3 children; Nancy, Ernie and Libby. He started Layton Construction Co, there in Atlanta and built homes, government housing, apartment buildings and bowling alleys.

In 1971, he moved to Houston as VP of Steele Construction Company and commuted back and forth to Atlanta for 2 years. In 1973, the family joined him and settled in the NW part of Houston.

He loved his work and had a special passion for bridge design and building. The family remembers all the Saturday mornings they were awakened, stuffed in the back seat of the car and taken to ride on the latest road he had completed or across the newest bridge. The kids all learned to drive on those unopened newly finished roads he had completed with his crews.

Ernie was a well known engineer in Houston and was frequently called upon for special projects, consultations and advice from his colleagues. Over time, he went on to establish Layton Bridge Company to focus more on his passion of bridge design and construction. Ernie designed, redesigned, and built bridges throughout Houston including many of the bridges in use today. In addition to the many bridges he built many of Houston’s toll roads.

He also designed and built the parking garages at the Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport. After selling his company, he continued to work as a consultant up until he was 80 yrs old and

loved every minute of it. In later life he would often comment how lucky he was to have worked at a job that was his passion. Throughout his years in business, he never had an enemy and was well known for his honesty and integrity, and he was a true man of his word.

Family was at the center of Ernie’s life. He treasured time spent with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was truly a blessed man. Throughout his life, he enjoyed working, designing, coaching little league sports, golfing, hunting, fishing, vacationing in Destin, grilling, gardening, painting, and attending the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He loved to tell jokes, laugh, and share stories—especially tales from his hunting and fishing

adventures and his times in the Navy. He was the life of a party and was ALWAYS the LAST to leave a party. Ernie and his laughter and stories will be deeply missed. Ernie loved telling everyone what a great life he had had and how fortunate he had been. He would often say “There is nobody in this world that has had a better life or a better family than I have.” Up until a week before his passing, when asking Ernie how he was doing that day he would always reply “better than yesterday and worse than tomorrow”. The family of Ernest Gaston Layton, Sr is in agreement and comforted in knowing that he is now definitely better than yesterday.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 65 years, Sue Layton; his three children, Nancy Layton of Thomaston, Georgia, Ernie Layton, Jr .(Heather) of Houston, and Libby Layton Jennings (George) of Amarillo; his twelve grandchildren, Shanna Matheny, Meagan Dolezal, Abby Sunday, Lilly Lowry, Bethy Ellington, Audrey Ellington, Trey Layton, Zach Layton, Rayner Ellington, Jake Layton, Kaylee Callender, and Tanner Layton; and his six great-grandchildren, Addyson Corley, Cooper Corley, Aubrey Corley, Caynen Corley, Brooks Dolezal, and Briggs Layton Bell.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Neil Layton, Deborah Layton, and Steven Layton; and his granddaughter, Madelaine Jennings. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of Ernest “Ernie” Layton, Sr at Alzheimer's Association - Ernest "Ernie" Gaston Layton, Sr

https://events.alz.org/fundraisers/nancylayton/ernest---ernie---gaston-layton--sr-

A committal service will be held at the Houston National Cemetery, located at 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77038, United States. The service is scheduled for January 27, 2026, from 2:15 pm to 2:45 pm.