Lisa Okland

We were shocked to learn Lisa, Randy's step-sister, died this week. She was a beautiful girl inside and out. She will be missed dearly by all. Our love goes out to Clark, Chris, Lizzy, Katie, Melissa, and all of her other family members. We are so sorry.

Lisa Jane Layton Okland 1985 ~ 2009
Lisa Layton Okland passed away in Tempe, AZ on October 17, 2009.
She was born to Clark and Renda Layton in Salt Lake City, Utah on
June 14, 1985. An honors graduate of Highland High School in 2003,
Lisa was a student leader and served as Dance Company President.
She married her high school sweetheart John Christopher Okland on
June 23, 2006 in the Salt Lake City Temple. Lisa graduated from Arizona
State University with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Photography. An
accomplished dancer, artist, photographer and triathlete, Lisa set a
standard of excellence. Spending time with family was Lisa's greatest joy.
She cherished her role as a wife; her greatest blessing was her loving
and supportive husband, Chris. They shared many adventures in the
great outdoors from the deserts of the Southwest to the Fjords of Norway,
often joined by their dog Ralph and always by Lisa's camera.
Children adored Lisa! She lovingly nurtured many children in her
family as an aunt, in her community as a nanny, and abroad as a
teacher in Ukraine and Mexico. Sweet, giving, creative, selfless,
kind, energetic, fun, thoughtful, and helpful, Lisa rained light and
love on our lives. She was a blessing from above. Her grace, beauty
and good will touched and charmed us. Always expressing appreciation,
Lisa was a supreme example of what it means to be grateful. Lisa
choreographed her life with passion using every part of herself: a
mind for learning, an eye for composition, an ear for listening,
a heart of kindness, a hand outreached, a smile for everyone, and
of course. . . a sense of humor. Indeed Lisa showed us all how
to "take life by the hand and dance." Lisa is survived by her
husband John Christopher Okland, her parents Clark Layton (Christine),
Renda Layton (Robert Strong); her grandparents Arthur and
Joy Wiscombe, Richard Layton; her brother Jacen; sisters Melissa,
Katherine; half sister Elizabeth; and step siblings Brian, Randy,
Darren, David, Amy. In honor of Lisa's passion for dance and
photography and her dedication to the pursuit of higher education,
a memorial scholarship fund has been established in her name.
Contributions can be made online at www.slc.k12.ut.us/sites/slef/
or mailed to the Salt Lake Education Foundation, Lisa Layton Okland
Scholarship 440 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. Funeral
services will be held Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 12:00 noon, at the
Monument Park Stake Center, 1320 South Wasatch Blvd., Salt Lake City,
UT. Friends and family may gather Thursday, October 22nd from
5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 West Rio Salado
Parkway, Tempe, AZ, and Friday, October 23rd from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City,
UT and from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. prior to the services at the
Monument Park Stake Center. Interment at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.