Bill & Betty Payne

Betty Ann Payne, age 92, of Grants Pass, died March 22, 2020 at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. Betty Ann Scheuring was born in October of 1927 in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the second of four children born to Clarence and Helen Scheuring and grew up in Parma, Ohio. Although she did not realize it at the time, she met the man she was to later marry in first grade. Betty graduated from Parma High. She was always well liked and loved to dance. Even after high school you could find Betty with her favorite dance partner, Bob, kicking up their heels on a dance floor. One such night Bob had invited his Army buddy, Bill, who was on leave to double date with him and Betty. After the date was over, Bob dropped Betty off at home and took Bill to get his car to take his date home. Then Bill drove over to Betty’s house and asked her out on a date. From that night on Betty would be Bill’s date, but Bob would still be her dance partner. Bill and Betty got married on April 26, 1947 and celebrated 72 wedding anniversaries. Betty’s first and primary career was being a loving and supporting wife and stay at home mom for her two girls. She did occasionally hold a job outside the home like being a receptionist or working in a cannery when there was something she wanted that wasn’t in the budget after the girls were in high school. Betty loved all the traveling her and Bill did together. They visited Canada, Mexico, and all 50 states. One of their favorite memories was an Alaskan cruise for their 60th wedding anniversary with their daughters. They were picked from the audience to play “The Newlywed Game.” Not only did they win the game but they became instant celebrities of the ship for the rest of the cruise. Betty was a member of Grants Pass Newcomers Club; Middle Rogue Steelheaders; Worthy Matron Order of Eastern Star; Betty’s Club; Good Sam Club; and Bunco Clubs. She volunteered at River Valley Church; Red Cross; Josephine County Food Bank; and Women’s Crisis Center. Her hobbies included fishing, traveling, playing keyboard, painting, decorating, and jewelry making. William Newton “Bill” Payne, age 93 of Grants Pass, died January 20, 2021 at his home. Bill was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Although he did not know it yet, his future wife and love of his life, Betty, was in his first-grade class. When Bill Entered high school in Ohio, he received a full ride scholarship to MIT when he graduated. Although he continued to excel in math and science in high school, God had another direction for his life when his family had to move to California during his junior year due to his father’s health. Although Bill never completed high school, he did secure employment during the war with the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1945 as a fireman until his induction into the Army September 18, 1946. He was stationed at Fort Knox and would go up to see the love of his life, Betty, every chance he got. Within 30 days of receiving an honorable discharge, Bill and Betty were married. They returned to California where Bill went back to work for the Southern Pacific Railroad as a fireman and was quickly promoted to an engineer. This was a job he loved and retired from 43 years later on August 10, 1988. Once retired they quickly moved from Fresno, California to Grants Pass. A place they had fallen in love with after their many years of vacationing in Oregon. They loved fishing in Brookings, Coos Bay, Diamond Lake, and the Rogue River. Once they moved here, they joined the Newcomers Club and the Middle Rogue Steelheaders and became active members of the community. Another sport Bill and Betty had in common during retirement was bowling. When Bill was inducted into the Grants Pass USBC Hall of Fame in 2010 for meritorious service, they became the first couple in Grants Pass to receive this honor. Betty had been inducted in 2007. Bill was also recognized by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Middle Rogue Steelheaders for co-founding the largest and most successful angler education program for youth in the state. Since its inception almost twenty years ago, the program reaches hundreds of youth annually teaching them conservation, salmon life cycle, boat and water safety, stream restoration, knot tying, how to cast and a fishing experience at Lake Selmac. This was Bill’s job in retirement and Betty supported him with every accomplishment. Bill was a member of Grants Pass Newcomers Club; Middle Rogue Steelheaders; American Legion; Good Sam Club; and was a 32nd Degree Mason and a Shriner. He volunteered much time with Angler Education; River Valley Church; Red Cross; Josephine County Food Bank; and ODFW Salmon Trout Enhancement Program. His hobbies included fishing, woodworking, and traveling. Survivors of Bill & Betty include two daughters, Judy Lollich of Grants Pass, Oregon and Bonnie Larson of Peyton, Colorado; four grandchildren, Bryan Lollich of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Cheryl Correia of San Diego, California, Matthew Larson of Coppell, Texas, and Renee Burt of Colorado Springs, Colorado; great-grandchildren Ethan Lollich of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Talia Lollich of Miami, Florida, Madison Larson, Melanie Larson and McKenna Larson all of Coppell, Texas; and Kayden Correia and Cristian Correia both of San Diego, California. Remembrances may be made to Steelheaders Angler Education, PO Box 962, Grants Pass, Oregon 97528.