William Harvey (Whiskers) Layne Jr., age 83, of 816 Brussels Ave, Clifton Forge died Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at Alleghany Regional Hospital, Low Moor, Virginia.

Whiskers was born on August 23, 1926 in Clifton Forge, Virginia to the late William Harvey Layne, Sr. and Nettie Clarkson Layne.

He served in the United States Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theatre.

He was a retired electrician for Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad and was a member of the Clifton Forge Presbyterian Church, where he was in the Men's Bible Class. He was a member of the Clifton Forge Elks Club B.P.O.E. # 1065. He was also active in local youth sports programs and was a very loyal Hokie fan.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Albert Allan Layne in 2007.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Mary Montgomery Layne of Clifton Forge; two daughters, Paula Carey and husband, Donald of Edmonds, OK, and Susan Ann Layne of Rocky Mount, VA; a son, Mason Allan Layne and wife, Angie of Glade Hill; three grandchildren, Dale Carey and Melanie Carey of Edmonds, OK, and Jacob William Layne of Glade Hill; and special cousins, Marybeth and Kippy Broughman and their sons, Brian and Tyler of Clifton Forge.

A funeral service was conducted on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge with Reverend Paul Brokaw officiating. Interment followed in Alleghany Memorial Park, Low Moor. Pallbearers were Ed Jones, Bob Bartley, Tom O'Meara, Richard Dobbs, Kippy Broughman, and Dale Carey. The family received friends on Saturday, two hours prior to the service at Nicely Funeral Home. The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to Clifton Forge Presbyterian Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 20, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.

The Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, handled the arrangements.