Verdon W. Payne, 88, died February 26, 2013. He was born September 16, 1924, in Oakland, Arkansas. He was the son of Verdon Payne Sr. and Madge (Bayless) Payne.
Verdon married Ila Dean Yocham on May 5, 1946. They were married for 64 years before Ila died.
Survivors include three daughters, Verdeana (Guy) Lavrrar of St. Louis, Phyllis (Hank) Freund of St. Louis, and Nancy (Michael) Gunning of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; three grandchildren, Jeremy (Julie) Freund, Grant and Garrett Gunning; two great grandchildren, Mason and Ava Freund; and a sister Lois (James) Walker. His brother Bob Payne is deceased.
Verdon graduated from Gainesville High School and joined the army. He became a medic and chaplain and served as a sergeant in the European theater during World War II.
He got married to Ila and went to the University of Missouri graduating with a Bachelors and Masters degrees in Agriculture.
Verdon and Ila moved to Mount Ayr, Iowa where he worked as a county extension agent for eight years.
In 1960, the Payne family moved to Fredericktown. They bought the Parken Insurance Agency and it became the Payne Insurance and Real Estate Agency. Verdon and Ila owned and worked it for 33 years. After retirement, he was the treasurer for the City of Fredericktown for a few years.
Verdon was a member of the First Baptist Church where he had been the Sunday School director and a teacher, a deacon, and a member of the choir. He also served on the executive board of the Missouri Baptist Convention. Verdon was a member of the Lions Club and a Mason
He had a great love for is lawn, flowers, car, and his clothes.
He valued his family, church, and God above all things.

Donations may be made to the
First Baptist Youth Group in memory of Verdon W. Payne .

Visitation; 11:00 A.M Saturday, March 2, 2013 at the First Baptist Church

Funeral Service; 12:00 P.M. Saturday, March 2, 2013 at the First Baptist Church

Officiating; Pastor Tom Johnson

Interment; Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery - Monday, March 4, 2013