Richard “Rick” E. Payne, 65, of Hillsboro, died on Saturday, July 3, 2021.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hough and Sons Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, July 7, beginning at 10 a.m. at Hillsboro Free Methodist Church with the Rev. Randy Sands officiating.
Mr. Payne was born Oct. 29, 1955, in Hillsboro, to William Eustace and Katheryn (Hiller) Payne. He married Cheryl J. Gurley on Aug. 2, 1975, and she survives.
He graduated from Hillsboro High School with the class of 1973 and Greenville College in 1977. During his career, he was a lifelong farmer and served as transportation director in the bus garage for the Hillsboro School District until 1995. He then worked at Caterpillar in Decatur until his retirement.
Mr. Payne was a member of Hillsboro Free Methodist Church, Montgomery County Farm Bureau, and served on the Hillsboro School Board for eight years.
He was a sixth cousin to President Abraham Lincoln.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Payne is survived by his daughter, Rachael (Ken) Payne-Grinolds of Chatham; sons, Ryan (Kelli Jo) Payne, Caleb (Andrea) Payne, both of Hillsboro, and Christopher (Amanda) Payne of Witt; 21 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and two sisters, Kathleen Goldsborough of Cowden and Marion Crawford of Avon, IN.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Donna Mohr.
Memorials may be directed to Hillsboro Free Methodist Church, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Samaritan’s Purse. Online condolences to the family may be left at www.houghfuneralhome.com.
