Widow of Pioneer Kaufman Banker Dies at Dallas Home

Mary Catherine Layden

Dallas Morning News
Sunday, 28 May 1939, Page IV-16

Mrs. Mary Catherine Layden, 80, Widow of a well-known Kaufman County farmer-banker, died Saturday after a ten-day illness at her home, 1227 North Haskell.

She was the wife of the late Tom Layden, one-time president of the Farmers National Bank at Forney and backer of two other banks in Kaufman County.  Among children who survive her in Dallas are Mrs. C. F. O’Donnell, wife of the president of the Southwestern Life Insurance Company; Mrs. Edward R. Maher, wife of a Dallas auto dealer, and Martin M. Layden, real estate man.

Funeral services will be held in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart at 9 a.m. Monday.  A rosary will be read for Mrs. Layden at 8 p.m. Sunday in her home.

She was born Dec. 26, 1858, in Ontario, Canada, and moved to Texas when she was 19 years old.  A year later she was married to Mr. Layden and they settled in Forney where Mr. Layden, at first a farmer, gradually became interested in banking.

They moved to Dallas in 1906.  Mr. Layden devoted his time to this land holdings and banking interests until his retirement in 1920. He died in 1925.

Surviving Mrs. Layden are six children, Mrs. O’Donnell, Mrs. Maher, Mr. Layden, Miss Katherine Layden, Miss Nora Layden, and Miss Margaret Layden, all of Dallas; four sisters, Mrs. John Sline and Mrs. Elizabeth Walker of Dallas and Mrs.Benjamin Rouvaldt and Mrs. William Sline of Forney and seven grandchildren.

She will be buried in Calvary  Cemetery at Terrell.  Pallbearers will be William Sline, Carl Senter, M. P. Layden, Dennis Collins, Marris Walker and Jerry Vaughn, all of Forney.