Obit of Payne, Jessie - Pushmataha County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 8 Jul 2007 Return to Pushmataha County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/pushmataha/pushmataha.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Forest FH--Weavervillle CA Jessie Payne Napa Valley Register Friday, March 02, 2007 JUNCTION CITY - Jessie Odie Payne passed away at his home in Junction City on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, at the age of 82, surrounded by his loving family and friends and faithful caregiver Marie Holman. Jessie was the son of James Henry Payne and Retti Almeda Morrow. Jessie was born on June 5, 1925, in Tuskahoma, Okla. Jessie's dad was the sheriff of the county they lived in, but the family moved to New Mexico because of the Dust Bowl in the midst of the Depression. They all picked cotton to make a living for a short time, and that's the first time Jess can remember eating store-bought bread at four cents a loaf. From there, they moved to Texas and finally to California. Jess told his family that "The Grapes of Wrath" was truly the story of his early life. Jess saw his future wife, Frances Almetti Meador, "Tinker," for the first time when he was 14 or 15 when they were both living in Texas. He said that she was the prettiest thing he'd ever laid eyes on. Jess fought for his country and was a Marine rifle marksman during World War II. He fought at the Battle Peleliu, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands and the Occupation of China. He worked at Basalt in Napa, and then went to Kaiser Steel. He worked on building Conn Dam in Napa. It was while he was at Kaiser that he became involved in the union, eventually becoming the business manager for Laborer's Local 371 in Napa. He also was an officer of the Northern California District Council of Laborers and a trustee for the Northern California Laborers Trust Funds and was instrumental in starting the first Laborers Training Schools throughout the United States. He held those positions for over 30 years before retiring. Jess and his wife lived in Napa for over 30 years before retiring in 1985, and he and his wife, "Tinker," moved to Junction City, Trinity County. Jessie and Frances had five children, Barbara Payne McGuire (and husband Gib) of Saratoga, Don Payne (and wife Shirley) of Napa, Ted Payne (and wife Dee Dee) of Napa (who died in 2006), Steve Payne (and wife Becky) of Napa and Jerry Payne (and wife Deanna) of Sacramento. Jessie was predeceased by his wife, Frances, in 1998; his grandson, Johnny Payne, in 1988; his son, Ted, in 2006. All of Jessie's siblings also predeceased him, they being Albert, Elbert, Frank, Mary Ellen, Foy, Jess' twin brother, Jim, Thad and Freddie. There are numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins and nephews and nieces. The family wants to thank Patty and Julie and Dr. Stemple for all the help they gave Jess and the family. Funeral services will be held at Forest Funeral Home in Weaverville, 107 Masonic Lane, Weaverville, on Sunday, March 4, at 10 a.m. The family suggests contributions to Mountain Community Medical Services in Weaverville in lieu of flowers. There will be a celebration of Jess' life immediately following at his home in Junction City. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Pushmataha County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/pushmataha/pushmataha.html