James G. Payne, 61, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 10, 2016, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Jim was born on July 1, 1955, in Marion, Indiana to the late Harry Wesley Payne and the late Malinda Susan (McCarty) Payne. Jim married Lorna Sprinkle in September of 1997. She survives. Jim graduated from Marion High School in 1974 and later on got his Associates degree from Ivy Tech, with a 3.99 GPA. Jim worked at Thompson’s until they closed in 2004, and then worked in equipment support at American Woodmark, where he was very proud of his perfect attendance and parking space.
Jim was an extremely hard worker and wanted things done perfectly. If he was going to do something, he was going to do it right. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and swinging in the wooden swing Lorna bought him. When Jim was younger, he loved to ride horses and even won a few trophies. Jim enjoyed sitting by a campfire and doing crossword puzzles. He was an avid football fan, and nothing stood between him and his Detroit Lions.
Jim is survived by his wife, Lorna Payne, Marion, IN; 2 daughters, Shawn (Doug) Blackburn, Marion, IN, and Brooke (Doug) Denham, Marion, IN; Lorna’s step-son, David (Kelly) Sheetz, Chicago, IL; 6 grandchildren, Haleigh (Haleigh-Bob) Blackburn, Hannah (NanNan) Blackburn, Gabrial (Snoopy) Denham, Brady (Shady Brady) Denham, all of Marion, IN, Connor Sheetz, and Kaylee Sheetz, both of Chicago, IL; 4 sisters, Bonnie (Bud) Love, Sue Herring, Geraldine Harmon, and Mary Morrison, all of Marion, IN; 1 brother, Ralph Payne, Marion, IN; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Malinda Payne; Lorna’s parents, Glenn and Sonia (GeGe) Nealis; 3 brother-in-laws, Mike Herring, Ron Harmon, and Ross Morrison; and 2 special grandchildren, Mason Denham and Gavyn Denham.
Arrangements for Jim have been entrusted to the College Park Chapel of Armes-Hunt Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 4601 S. Western Ave., Marion, Indiana 46953. A funeral service honoring Jim has been set for 5:00 pm on Thursday, December 15, 2016, at the funeral home, with Pastor Rob Barton officiating. A visitation will be held before the service from 3:00-5:00 pm. Burial will be on Tuesday, December 20, 2016, at 11:00 am at Grant Memorial Park.
Online condolences may be left at www.armeshuntfuneralhome.com.