Frankie Jo Layne

PHARR, TEXAS
Frankie Jo (Chancey) Layne, 92, passed away Thursday, June 30, 2022, at The Gardens at Brook Ridge in Pharr.
Frankie Jo was born October 5, 1929 near Bloomington in Victoria County, Texas to Monroe M. and Eva (Lynch) Chancey. At the age of seven, Frankie Jo was enrolled in the Texas School for the Blind in Austin, Texas. While attending school, Frankie Jo learned to write Braille and type. She loved home economics and enjoyed cooking. As a young child, she started singing and loved taking part in musical events at her school. After graduation, Frankie Jo returned to Austin where she successfully completed course work at the Lighthouse for the Blind to run a coffee shop. An opening to run the coffee shop in the Hidalgo County Courthouse opened up, and she began working on May 1, 1951. In 1953, her folks moved to Edinburg where she attended St Joseph Catholic Church, and she became a member of the choir. Invited to sing at various events, Frankie Jo asked one of the St. Joseph organists, Dan Layne, to accompany her. He became the love of her life, and they were married on September 12, 1965. Frankie Jo ran the coffee shop alone from 1951 to 1973. In 1973, Dan began working with Frankie Jo at the coffee shop until they both retired in 1994. During their long married life, Dan and Frankie Jo enjoyed playing and singing for over 500 weddings, funerals, and quinceaneras. Frankie Jo read the scripture readings at her church on Sundays from her Braille copies. She was a member of St. Joseph Altar Society where she was a guild leader for over 45 years. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters where she led the singing at meetings.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Dan Layne; parents, Malcolm Monroe and Eva Lucille Chancey; two brothers, Willard Chancey and J.D. Rogers.
Frankie Jo is survived by her niece, Anne Short; nephews, Bill Chancey, Bob Chancey, Jerry Rogers; and caregiver, Marianita Juarez.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. with a 6 p.m. Rosary on July 5, 2022, at Memorial Funeral Home, 208 E. Canton, Edinburg, TX. Funeral service and mass will take place at 1 p.m., July 6, 2022, at
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Edinburg. Interment will follow at Valley Memorial Gardens in McAllen.
Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.