Ken Stacy Layton, 58, of Rogers, Arkansas, passed away on Friday, July 21, 2023 at his home. Ken was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 5th, 1965 to a beautiful and selfless woman who, because of circumstances, gave him and his twin sister Kem up for adoption. Five months later, he and his sister were adopted by an equally beautiful and selfless couple, Arthur and Emily (Hembrey) Layton.

Ken’s formative years were spent helping his father in the family hog and cattle operation, playing baseball, and being tormented by his sister. Much of his time was spent riding horses, riding in the back of pick-up trucks, and riding his bicycle around town.

Ken excelled at mathematics in school. After graduating from Pocahontas High School in 1983, he chose to study at the University of Arkansas where he received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and master’s degree in business administration. While at the U of A, Ken was a member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. This was an organization in which he enjoyed much camaraderie and a brotherhood with men who remained his friends throughout the years.

After college, Ken worked for various companies as an engineer, a designer, and an inventor/ innovator. He eventually went into business for himself, forging alliances and partnerships with domestic and international corporations. He traveled the world for business and found a home away from home in Hong Kong, living there for several years.

Although he was brilliant in his field and dedicated to his work, Ken’s two real passions were fishing and playing pool. His mother Emily was the fisherwoman who planted that seed early in Ken’s youth. He loved to fish for trout on the White River and had a yearly Troutfest trip with his friends and fraternity brothers. His father Arthur was both an inspiration and a mentor for his pool playing. Arthur’s famous words of wisdom told to Ken as a teenager in the pool hall in Pocahontas, were never to play pool for money against anyone better than you.

Although Ken was never blessed with children, he greatly enjoyed his niece, his nephews, his grand nieces and nephews, and his stepchildren. The older ones will never forget him. The ones too young to remember him will be regaled with stories of his escapades for years to come.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Emily (Hembrey) Layton.

Ken is survived by his twin sister, Kem Tyler of Mountain Home, AR; long-time girlfriend, Olga Shugla of Komsomolsk- on-Amur, Russia; stepchildren, Brittany Rodgers of Little Rock, AR; Nicholas Rodgers of Searcy, AR, and step-granddaughter, Heidi Rodgers of Little Rock, AR.

To quote Ken’s beloved high school mathematics teacher, “The world is a better place because of his life well-lived!”