Helen Gunn was born March 27, 1923, the third of five children, to Roy and Mary Ellen James Gunn, in her childhood home at 64 W. Burton Avenue in Salt Lake City. Her siblings are two older brothers, Joseph and Hiram, and a younger sister and brother, Barbara and Raymond. She has lived her entire life in Utah.

She married Irvin Clay “Bud” Layton on April 24, 1946, in the Salt Lake Temple. Bud passed away on January 21, 2011. They were married 64 years. They are the parents of four children, James Gary, Mary Ellen, Judy Ann, and David Gunn. The entire head count of her current family is 81, including Helen. That’s quite a group.

She taught piano lessons for 46 years and generously shared her music talents and abilities throughout her life. She is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has served in various ward and stake callings in every organization, usually concurrent with being a ward and choir organist. She also served as an organist at the Bountiful Temple for 11 years.

We are so proud of you, Mom, and love you so very much. You have lived a powerful and exemplary life for us to follow. Thanks for all your love and prayers in our behalf and for everything you have done for us, and for everyone who has had the great privilege to know and love you. As our daddy would say, ‘Happy Birthday, Earth Angel.’