Kathleen G. Payne

Kathleen Payne, 94, entered eternity April 13, 2018. Kathleen was born April 11, 1924, the second daughter to Elmer and Violet (Whittington) Graber in Monett, Missouri. She graduated from Verona High School in the class of 1942. Two years later she took a civil service test and was sent to Washington D.C. She arrived on the day of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s funeral and witnessed the horse-drawn procession. She worked in the Pentagon for one year, along with her younger sister. Then she went home and moved to Kansas City where she met her future husband, Elwood Payne, and was united in marriage with him on June 1, 1947. They were blessed with their first child, Donald, in July of 1948. A daughter, Anita, arrived in September of 1949 and passed away in 1950. In 1951 the family moved to the farm north of Smithton, where she lived for 67 years. During this time they welcomed their daughter, Kathryn, in October of 1953. Kathleen was the most wonderful mother and farm wife. She joyfully served her family, including her great-grandchildren! She was a great example to them of common sense, deep loving values, and faithfulness to the Lord.

Her community involvement in her earlier years included 4-H, Smithton Young Homemakers Extension Club, and employment at Lamy’s and at Interstate. Kathleen was a dedicated member of Smithton Baptist Church, where she taught children in Sunday School and Bible School, planting the seeds of faith in many young hearts.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her sisters, Mary Evelyn Bailey, Juanita Weldy, and Patricia DeHamer; her infant daughter, Anita; her grandson, Jared Matthew; and her great-grandson, Jared Troy.

Kathleen is survived by her son, Don Payne and wife, Ann, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, their four children and spouses: Christina (Steven) Jardee, Don (Carley) Payne, Evelyn (Gi) Hing, Aaron (Kelly) Payne, and their children, Daniel, Jonathan, Micah, Rachel, Joseph, Emma, Madelyn, Weston and Ellie. She is also survived by her daughter, Kathryn Waters, of Smithton, and her two sons and families: Jason Waters, of Smithton, and Ben (Trisha) Waters, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and their son, James.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21, 2018, at Heckart Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until service time.

Burial will follow in the IOOF Cemetery in Otterville.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Smithton Baptist Church, in care of Heckart Funeral Home.