Michael Ray Payne

Michael Ray Payne, 61, of Herrin, Ill. went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at 1:38 a.m., Tuesday, July 20, 2010. Michael was the owner of Payne's Tax and Financial Services in Herrin. He formerly worked for J.V. Walker & Sons and the Bank of Herrin. Michael was an Elder of the Herrin Church of Christ. Michael was born January 2, 1949 in Newport, Ark. to Melvin C. and Helen Beth (Coe) Payne. He graduated from Newport High School in Newport, Ark. and Harding College in Searcy, Ark. and completed graduate work at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Michael was united in marriage with Deborah L. Hindman on December 28, 1970 in Carbondale, Ill. A former high school All-Star and college athlete, Michael was a longtime supporter of Herrin athletics. He enjoyed traveling, gardening, fishing, reading and spending time with family and friends. Michael was loved by many for his kind and generous spirit. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Deborah L. Payne of Herrin; daughter, Brandyn Payne of Nashville, Tenn.; son and daughter-in-law, Jeremy and Alexandra Payne of Brentwood, Tenn.; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Tom and Linda Payne of Bartlett, Tenn., Jack Payne of Billings, Mont., Dale and Clarisse Payne of Union Hill, Ark.; mother-in-law, Mildred Teffertiller Hindman Phegley of Carterville; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Sandra and Linwood Bechtel of Carterville, Barbara and Archie Glazier of Fort Morgan, Colo.; nieces and nephews, Cynthia Shaw of Flat Rock, N.C., Staci and Osman Arauz of Lake Jackson, Texas, Terri and Barry Fortner of Lakeland, Tenn., Brian and Melissa Payne of Colorado Springs, Colo., Andrea Payne of Billings, Mont., Perry and Tammy Smith of Guy, Ark., Wade and Kathryn Smith of Newport, Ark., Mandy Smith of Newport, Ark., Sandy and Jason Skelton of Batesville, Ark., Brian and Delisha Bechtel of Glen Carbon, Christie and Chad Goodman of Herrin, Becky and Randy Mate of Glendale, Calif., Brad and Debey Gettings of Glendale, Ariz. and longtime friends, Terry and Ellen Brumley of Columbus, Miss. Michael was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Melvin Coe Payne. Services will be 11 a.m., Saturday, July 24, 2010, at Herrin Church of Christ, 3101 South Park Avenue, Herrin, Ill. with Scott Cody officiating. Interment will be in Herrin City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Friday, July 23, 2010, at the Herrin Church of Christ. Memorial donations may be made to the Herrin Church of Christ or to the Williamson County Child Advocacy Center. Services have been entrusted to Meredith-Waddell Funeral Home in Herrin.