Otilie Mae Layher (Lea), 89, of Grand Island, died Friday, February 12 at the Park Place Golden Living Center in Grand Island. There will be a celebration of life at 3:00 pm, Monday, February 15 at the Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Chapel. To follow her wishes, cremation was chosen. She truly enjoyed living at Chrysalis and the many friends she made in her later life.
Otilie was born November 20, 1926, on the family farm south of St. Paul to Tom and Josie (Vrbsky) Matousek. She received her grade school education in the rural school of District 76. After graduating from St. Paul High School in 1945 she taught in rural schools in Howard County. She moved to the west coast in 1947, employed by the Pacific Bell Telephone Company and later transferred to the North West Bell Company.
She married Gene Layher on June 15, 1950 in Lincoln, NE. They moved to Grand Island in 1957, where they made their home together.
Lea enjoyed jigsaw and cross word puzzles, reading, and travel. Her most memorable travels were Monterey, Mexico, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Okinawa and Sasebo, Japan.
She was employed by Walbachs Dept. Store, Skagway, Holiday Plastics and the Nebraska Veterans Home, retiring in 1991. She was also an interpreter at the Stuhr Museum Railroad Town, and loved making her costumes of the period clothing.
Lea is survived by her daughter, Sandra Miles of Lincoln; sons and daughter-in-law, Lyle and Julie Layher of Jacksonville, FL and Roger Layher of Grand Island.
She is also survived by her grandchildren and their spouses, Jason Layher, Kristin and John Holtgrew and Amy and Jeff Grewe; sisters, Maxine Meyer and Erma Rasmussen and many nieces, nephews and other family members.
Lea was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Agnes Rose, Betty Frajford; and son-in-law Fred Miles.
Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date. On behalf of Otilie, the family would like to thank the staff at Park Place, Saint Francis Hospital and Chrysalis for their compassionate care in her final days.
Livingston-Sondermann has been entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences may be directed to www.livson.com.


Otilie Mae Layher (Lea), 89, of Grand Island, died Friday, February 12 at the Park Place Golden Living Center in Grand Island. There will be a celebration of life at 3:00 pm, Monday, February 15 at the Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Chapel. To follow her wishes, cremation was chosen.