Dixie Lee Payne, 85, of Paris, Illinois, formerly of Danville and Catlin, Illinois, passed away at 5:12 p.m. Monday, February 20, 2023, at Paris Health & Rehab Center. She was retired after twenty-three years with Supersweet Feed of Danville. She worked after retirement as a legislative assistant in the Danville offices of Illinois State Senators Michael Frerichs and Scott Bennett.

She was born December 24, 1937, in Mattoon, Illinois, the daughter of the late William W. “Woody” and Juanita M. (Williams) Wilson. She married C. Terry Payne on May 18, 1956, in Paris. He preceded her in death on October 30, 2008.

Survivors include a sister, Linda McGlone of West Terre Haute, Indiana; a brother, Larry J. (Charleen) Wilson of Clinton, Indiana; four children, Kent (Sandy) Payne of Veedersburg, Indiana, Keith Payne of Rossville, Illinois, Kathy Payne of Murray, Kentucky, and Kyle (Jennifer) Payne of Venice, Florida; eight grandchildren, Matt Payne, Amy (Chase) Martin, Samantha (Chad) English, Kellie (Bryce) Meredith, Chyann Cheeseman, Angie DePotter, Dylan Payne, and Jillian Payne; thirteen great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Linda Payne of Tarpon Springs, Florida; a sister-in-law, Rae (Butch) Gher of Paris; and several nieces and nephews; as well as her two best friends, Carolyn Hixon and Norma Davison. She was preceded in death by a son, Kevin Payne; a brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Dorothy Wilson; and two sisters-in-law, Kay Haddix and Linda Brown.

Mrs. Payne was a graduate of Paris High School. She was an active member of Catlin United Methodist Church for a number of years and attended Otterbein United Methodist Church after moving to Paris. Dixie was proud of her service in state government and was honored at the State Capitol at her retirement. She was a former board member of Vermilion County Democrats, and she enjoyed working as a greeter for Robison Chapel while living in Catlin. She also enjoyed traveling and especially loved family reunions. Dixie will be remembered as a loving, caring, and sociable person who was a proud grandmother.

For those who wish, the family suggests that memorials be made to the Compassionate Food Pantry, to Otterbein United Methodist Church, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

The family wishes to thank the staffs of Paris Health & Rehab Center and Lincolnland Hospice for their loving care to Dixie.

SERVICE INFORMATION

Services celebrating her life were conducted at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, February 25, 2023, at Templeton Funeral Home in Paris, with Pastors Troy Horne and Craig Roller officiating. Visitation was from 1:00 p.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home. Interment was private in Payne Cemetery in Brocton, Illinois.

Please consider sharing a memory, photo, or condolence with Dixie’s family on her Tribute Wall at www.TempletonFuneralHome.com