Michael Payne

Every life impacts another so strongly. We write obituaries trying to sum up the lives of great men and women. To bring meaning to whom and what they were between the dashes of born on –died on--. Mike Payne was an adventure down the road of life. He was vibrantly, alive always ready with an easy smile, a smart remark, and in his younger days a ready fist. He married his high school sweetheart Bardy Thornton, and they started their journey down the highway. They added his baby girl Tanya to the journey in 1983, “the baby son to him father”, Nathan, in 1990, and his baby angel Savanna in 1997. Their family was complete. Mike loved his family with a passion and he always wanted for them to be as close to him as possible. He hated that his work sometimes took him far away and that made him want to hold them all the more closer when he was home. He loved people and he loved to have whing dings at his home. He offered his guests steak, his world famous potato salad, burritos, bean dip, watermelon and a healthy dose of sarcasm. He had something for everyone and especially the ones that dared to venture over on their birthdays. He promptly served them up a birthday whipping like no other. He was a true friend and generous to a fault. Everyone was his favorite. He was known for calling a spade a spade, being tough as nails, and knew a lot about everything, but his trade mark will always be his laughter. He loved to laugh and make others laugh. He played so many practical jokes on so many people that we could write a book just about that alone. Laughter is such a wonderful medicine and Mike was a regular medicine man. The laughter stopped suddenly for Mike on January 7, 2012. He had made his last stop, played his last joke, and gave us his last smile. But it is the laughter, the generosity, the very vibrancy of Mike that we will remember and treasure. Laughter is what filled the dashes of Mike’s life and heaven must be full of laughter because Mike is there. Michael is Survived by Wife Barbara of the home, Parents Manuel Payne of Roswell, Oleta Mask and her husband Bill of Roswell, three children Tanya Thompson and husband Justin, Nathan Payne and fiancé Ashleigh and Savanna Payne all of Roswell, Brother Manuel Payne, two sisters Kristy Velasco and Mendy Mask and fiancé Pete Hernandez all of Roswell, three Grandchildren Zoe, Ashlyn and Josiah Thompson. Nathan and Ashleigh have a child on the way. Numerous Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces, Nephews and his friend and neighbor Miss Nellie also survive him. Services for Michael Payne will be 1pm, Friday, January 13, 2012 at Waymaker Church with Pastor Mark Green officiating. Interment will following at South Park Cemetery. Viewing will be held 12pm – 8pm, Thursday, January 12, 2012. Pallbearers are listed as Ryan Payne, Joe Smith, Justin Thompson, Nathan Payne, Manuel K. Payne and Gary Willard. Honorary Pallbearers will be Pete Hernandez, Will Garrison, Manuel Payne, Ronnie Parker, Henry Miranda, Trent Moore, Kirk Goldston, Fred and Benjamin Kreutzberg, P.J. Ramer and all his close friends and family. Please take a moment to share your thoughts and memories in the online register book at andersonbethany.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson Bethany Funeral Home & Crematory.

Michael Payne

February 18, 1963 - January 7, 2012