PAYNE, Lorette (Brown)

Lorette Brown Payne died on July 15, 2011, at Sweetwater Home for Seniors in Sweetwater, TN. She was born July 3, 1912, in Hartshorne, Oklahoma, the only child of Charles Martin Brown and Audrey Hardy Brown. She attended McAlester High School in McAlester, Oklahoma, graduating in 1929. Mrs. Payne also graduated in 1950 from the Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, Oklahoma. She was a long time member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Oklahoma (GFWC OK) within McAlester Fortnightly. She also served as President of this organization from 1972-1973. Mrs. Payne served the GFWC Oklahoma SE District in various officer positions, including as President of GFWC OK SE District from 1978-1980. Mrs. Payne was also an active member of P.E.O. in McAlester, Melbourne, Florida; and finally in Athens, Tennessee. She was honored this spring at the P.E.O. Tennessee State Convention for being a 50 year member. She was employed by Public Service Company of Oklahoma, our local electric provider, from November 1953 until her retirement in August 1973. She served the McAlester community as home economist, performing cooking demonstrations and traveling to each home as electric appliances were installed. Mrs. Payne was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Allen Payne, and is survived by her sons, Alan Payne of Etowah, TN, and Roy Payne of Japan, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Her body was cremated and the ashes will be interred in McAlester at a later date when the family can gather.