Michael Layana, a popular sales agent with Cavanaugh Realtors for the past 15 years, died unexpectedly on Saturday.
He was 47 years old.
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Funeral services were not yet finalized today. Family members indicated a service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday or Wednesday at Holy Cross Cemetery (holycrossmortuary.com).
Mr. Layana not only had not been ill previously, his mother, Carol Layana, said that he probably had not been to a doctor’s office since his youth when she drove him there.
Danny Cavanaugh of Cavanaugh Realtors said Mr. Layana was successful because he brought a half-dozen of the most appropriate tools to the ever-liquid field of real estate.
“”First,” he said, “Mike was smart and he worked hard. He knew the market well. He stayed in touch with people. And he had a very loyal following.
“Mike was a loyal friend, and people liked that about him.”
Like others in his sports-minded family, notably his late brother Tim and his uncle, Jim McAnany — both of whom played in the majors — Mr. Layana had a lifelong passionate affection for baseball. He played the outfield with distinction.
Ten years ago this past June, Tim Layana was killed when his SUV was broadsided by another vehicle. Michael Layana was among 3 passengers in his brother’s car, and all 3 were treated and released from a Bakersfield hospital. The group was returning to Culver City from a charity golf tournament to raise money for combating juvenile diabetes.
A 1980 graduate of Culver City High School, Mr. Layana attended West Los Angeles College for two years, transferred to the University of Arkansas, and he later graduated from Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Proud of the straight-forwardness of her son, Carol Layana concluded that he had led “a great life.”
In addition to his mother, and his father Frank, Mr. Layana, who was not married, is survived by 3 brothers, Nick, John and Matt, and 2 sisters, Nancy and Melinda.
