OrlandoSentinel.com

Zed Clark "Chip" Layson IV always found time to spend with those who loved him, despite a very busy schedule as a teacher, husband and father of three.

"Friday was almost a perfect day," his father, Zed Clark Layson III, said. "He went to school and taught, took his son to a baseball practice, saw me around 6:30 p.m., visited with his mom and had plans to meet with a high-school friend he hadn't seen in eight years."

At 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Layson lost control of his car and crashed while driving on Bumby Avenue near Corrine Drive. He died at the scene, according to police. He was 36.

Layson, of Winter Park, was an eighth-grade teacher at Lake Highland Preparatory School in downtown Orlando. The school was Layson's alma mater -- he was a proud member of the 1989 class. The school's Web site lists Layson as an American history and social-studies instructor. He also coached tennis and soccer, his father said.

"He was a natural athlete, but surfing was his true love," Layson said. "In fact, yesterday he had an appointment to go surfing with his best friend. He never made it."

Most precious to Layson was his family. He was a hands-on father, deeply involved in his children's lives, who also did most of the cooking at home, his father said.

"He didn't stand around. If something needed to be done, he did it," Layson said. "I am very proud of him."

Of all the things Layson did and was, it was his strong Christian faith that distinguished him most.

"His faith was strong and sincere. Just yesterday I had someone come up to me and said: 'I'm so thankful your son led my two boys to Christ,' " Layson said. "That means a lot. His life had a lot of meaning."

Layson is survived by his wife, Heather, and three children: Zed Clark V, 8; Caroline Grace, 6; and Harris, 10 months.

In addition to his father, he is also survived by his mother, Blanche Anderson, of Winter Park; and siblings Ben Wilson and Evelyn Wilson of Orlando and Kathy McCrea and Ashley Vann of Winter Park.

Carey-Hand Cox Parker Funeral Home in Winter Park is handling the arrangements.