DONALD "DONNIE" PAYNE

Donald “Donnie” Payne of Clever, MO passed away at his home on Friday, November 11, 2022, at the age of 78. He was born on January 31, 1944, in Springfield, MO to Lucius and Mary (Steere) Payne. Donnie was one of nine children in the home.
He graduated from Republic High School with the class of 1962. Donnie married Janice Conrad on November 18, 1966, and they have shared 56 amazing years together. Together Donnie and Janice had one daughter, Tracey. He began his career with MidAmerican Creamery where he was employed for ten years until he took a position in the maintenance department with Springfield Public School, retiring after twenty-five years of dedicated service. Donnie was a very humble hard-working man who would stop whatever he was doing to help someone else; and he always had a list a mile long of things that needed to be done. He was known for getting things done before most knew they needed to be done, and he did things right. He could fix or do just about anything, from solving problems, to personal advice to pretty much anything mechanical. And if he couldn’t come up with a solution at that moment, he would work until he had an answer. Donnie never had a bad thing to say about anyone, and he was known for being a great joke teller. Donnie could often be found outdoors. He took such pride in his beef cattle. He could often be found outdoors on his John Deere Tractor in the hay field or riding in his John Deere Gator, checking on his cattle. He was a very busy man, but he always made time for his family, especially his two grandsons who were the light of his life. If he was building a barn or fixing a fence, those boys were right there with him, earning him the nickname “Papa”. Donnie was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, and even great grandfather.
Donnie is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Lester Payne.
Left to mourn his passing are his loving wife of 56 years, Janice, daughter Tracey Gold and husband David, two amazing grandsons Daron Gold and Justin Gold, a great granddaughter Maya Gold, sisters; Sue Aton, Marilyn McLean and Penny Turner, brothers; John Carpenter, Joe Carpenter, David Payne and Lloyd Payne as well as a host of nieces, nephews and other extended family and countless friends.
A Visitation is scheduled for Friday, November 18, 2022, from 11-12pm at Meadors Funeral Home in Clever. Funeral services will follow at 12 noon, with Pastor Rick Flood officiating. Burial will be at Patterson Cemetery in Springfield.