Cheryl J. (Gurley) Payne, 66, of Hillsboro, died on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, at Hillsboro Area Hospital.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at Hough and Sons Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at the Hillsboro Free Methodist Church with Rev. Randy Sands officiating. A private burial will be at the Payne Family Cemetery. Hough and Sons Funeral home in Hillsboro is assisting the family with arrangements.
Mrs. Payne was born on Aug. 6, 1955, in Hillsboro, to Myrl and Betty (Collins) Gurley. She married Richard “Rick’ Payne on Aug. 2, 1975, he preceded her in death July 3, 2021.
Mrs. Payne was a graduate of Hillsboro High School and attended Greenville College where she studied early childhood development. She was a member of the Hillsboro Free Methodist church. Mrs. Payne was transportation director and bus driver for Hillsboro School District. She worked at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and lab as a phlebologist.
Mrs. Payne is survived by her mother, Betty Gurley of Hillsboro; one daughter, Rachel (Ken) Payne-Grinolds of Chatham; three sons, Ryan (Kelli Jo) Payne of Hillsboro, Christopher (Amanda) Payne of Witt and Caleb (Andrea) Payne of Hillsboro; 21 grandchildren; one great grandchild; one sister, Vickie Cherry of Hillsboro; one aunt, Ethel Liston of Irving; and an uncle, Larry Collins of Hillsboro.
She was preceded in death by her father; husband; and one aunt, Colleen Gates.
Memorials may be directed to Hillsboro Free Methodist Church, St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Samaritan’s Purse. Condolences may be left online at www.houghfuneralhome.com.
