Rev. Richard Payne

Rev. Richard E. Payne

May 3, 1926 to February 20, 2014

Richard Earl Payne was born May 3, 1926 at Reform, Missouri, and passed away peacefully at the Twin Pines Adult Care Center, Kirksville, Missouri, on February 20, 2014, surrounded by family and friends.

On August 29, 1948, he was united in marriage to Reva Mae Speak, who survives. Also surviving are two sons John Payne and wife Mariann of College Park, Maryland; James Payne and wife Sharal of Raymore, Missouri; two daughters Rebecca McClanahan and husband Marvin of Kirksville; and Mary Jane Suppasansathorn and husband Noppadol of Leawood, Kansas. Also surviving are ten grandchildren, Andrew McClanahan and wife Astrid, Bryan McClanahan, Justin Payne, Jeremy Payne, Jessica Payne, Olivia Payne, Zachary Payne, Melanie Suppasansathorn Meyers and husband Christopher, Jared Suppasansathorn, and Angela Suppasansathorn Scalise and husband Dominick. As well as nine great-grandchildren, Zion, Lincoln, Uma, Forest, and Quentin Meyers; Amélie McClanahan, and Luca, Marietta Rae, and Cora Mable Scalise. He was also survived by a brother-in-law, Lowell Menefee and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents R. Guy and Lola (Heying) Payne, two sisters Iva Pauline Menefee, Julia Marie Laube Hulett and her husband Guy.

He was drafted to the US Army in 1945, and served in Texas, Kansas, and the District of Columbia, being discharged in 1947. After military service he entered the ministry in the Church of God (Holiness) while still in college at the Kansas City College and Bible School. He graduated from that college with a degree Bachelor of Theology in May 1951. He spent over 60 years in ministry, pastoring churches at: Paola, KS; Kirksville, MO; Hallsville, MO; Hazel Green, MO (east of Kirksville); Hutchinson, KS; Mount Zion (Ava), MO; Rosedale (Kansas City), KS; Cayman Brac, British West Indies; Littleton, CO; Macon, MO; Moulton, IA; and St. Charles, MO. He spent nearly 15 years conducting special evangelistic services in churches, tents, and auditoriums in North and South America. He taught in the following Christian Schools: Kirksville, MO; Fort Scott, KS; Hallsville, MO; Mt Zion (Ava), MO; and Kansas City College and Bible School. He served many years on church boards: Home Missions, World Missions, Credential Committee, Foundation Board and Harmony Hill Youth Camp. The Junior Sunday Quarterly continues to use the Scriptural Paraphrase that he carefully prepared years ago.

Rev. Payne was known for an energetic preaching style that often included storytelling and his own unique humor. In his later years he developed a ministry writing letters and calling young ministers, both in the U.S. and on far-flung mission fields, to provide encouragement, mentoring, and support to them by assuring them that he was praying for them.

He has consistently testified to his service to Christ after being saved when he was nine years old and then giving his life in total commitment to Christ during his senior college year in 1951. He said “I have joyfully and wholly followed the Lord to the best of my ability. The semaphores are all green all the way to the Glory Land.”

Funeral service for Rev. Payne will be held Monday, 11:00 a.m., February 24, 2014, at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer, 2100 E. Shepherd Ave., Kirksville, MO 63501. The family will receive friends for visitation at the funeral home from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday evening, February 23, 2014, and one hour before the service on Monday. Burial will be at Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery, Jacksonville, MO 65260. A commitment ceremony will be held Tuesday, 1:00 p.m., at the cemetery.

Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home
2100 E. Shepherd Ave.
Kirksville, MO 63501 660-665-2233

Memorials are suggested, in lieu of flowers, to the “Payne Family Scholarship Fund” of the Kansas City College and Bible School, Overland Park, KS 66204.