Obituary for Larry Payne

Larry Lee Payne

September 28, 1940 – June 16, 2021

Larry Payne, a longtime resident of Ponca City, OK, went to be with Christ on June 16, 2021 at the age of 80, after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Larry was born in Ponca City, Oklahoma to Henrietta Barton and Ervin Payne. He obtained his schooling from Peter Elementary School along with Ponca City Public Schools. Following graduation he married Shirley Lee Bramlett and they made their home in Ponca City, OK. Larry and Shirley had three sons together, Mike, Evan, and Chris. Larry went to work for his father-in-law, doing maintenance for the cemetery. It was at this time that he learned how to operate a backhoe. That trade turned into a business for Larry, which he named Payne’s Backhoe Service. Larry also worked in the oil field for many years, with that came moving the family to Texas. It wasn’t long before he moved his family back to Oklahoma continuing the oil field work. After several years of working in the oil fields he moved his family to Ponca City where he became a lineman for the City of Ponca City. When the construction of Kaw Dam was going on, Larry was one of the many men hired to help assemble the dam. He was noted to have said that was the scariest job he had ever had.

Larry and his boys ran a bait stand that was located right at his home. Fishing not only was a hobby but also a passion. Larry passed that passion to his boys then his grandchildren, then on to his great grandchildren. Larry would dig out his lures and fishing equipment and let his grandchildren thumb through it as he would explain to them what each piece was used for. Larry was a giving a man. He gave all he had up until his last day. If you were hungry or needed something, you knew Larry would do whatever he could to help you. Family was a very important part of his life. As the grandchildren grew up he would have the family over for homemade ice cream and cake for various holidays and celebrations.

Larry and his boys would spend hours working on whatever the boys had drug home, from motorcycles to go-carts to automobiles. If they weren’t working on motors they could be found with their arms stuck in a hole fishing out a catfish. Larry took many, many trips with his boys and friends and family to the lakes and rivers of Oklahoma. His favorite fishing hole was whichever one had the biggest fish. Larry never met a stranger, loved to joke around, and always found the positive in every situation. He loved drinking coffee. With that, when his grandchildren came over, Larry would poor them a cup and they would sit down together to enjoy. Larry would always tell the grandchildren how the coffee was going to turn their feet black. So far, that hasn’t actually happened.

Larry was a man of faith. He raised his children in the Baptist church and continued to attend throughout his life. Larry is survived by two of his sons; Mike Payne; his children, Amanda Payne Barber and great grandchildren Tucker Jordan, Rowdy Barber, and Stockton Payne and Jennifer Payne, son- Evan Payne and wife Gina; his children Joey Payne and wife Hailey, and Vanessa Payne, as well as Chris’ son; Christopher Payne and wife Kim. Also, brothers Max Payne and wife Sue, Dale Payne, sister Mary Owens and husband Tom and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by wife-Shirley Payne, son-Chris Payne, sister-Glenna Payne, brothers-Jim Payne and Ervin “Sonny” Payne, and daughter-in-law Annette Payne.

A graveside service is pending. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home