Rita M. Layher

May 7th, 1934 - December 13th, 2019

Rita's Memory Wall

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I wasn't much of a student but turned into a pretty successful adult and I owe a lot of that to Mrs. Layher. She was by far the most influential teacher I had at Galien. She believed in her students even as she repeatedly yelled stifle! On several occasions, I remember and laugh at her using that term so often and it's something I will never forget. She was not an easy teacher but she didn't let her students waver. It was truly an honor having her and contributing to shaping my determination to push on no matter how hard it may be. Rest easy Mrs. Layher. You left a legacy that will be hard to match.

Season Kutemeier

December 16th, 2019 at 9:22am

I don't know how many students will say that Mrs Layher influenced their lives, but it must be very many. Her dedication to education and inspiring students to succeed was invaluable. From a distance, I worked with her on the Space Camp program. She ran with that idea and worked so hard for years to give Galien elementary students an opportunity no other school matched. Imagine sending yearly 10, 20, 30 students from little Galien, Michigan, to a national astronaut youth space camp in Florida and Alabama Her goal every year was to send more than the year before...and she did. I need to say this....Thanks Rita for opening the eyes of so many Galien students to what they could become if they tried. Will miss you. Bill Underly