Jimmy Dean Payne

Jimmy Dean Payne was born to Algia Leoan Jones Payne and Walter Carter Payne on July 26, 1941 in Anson Texas.
Jim’s father, W. C. (Dub) worked in the oil field business and the family travelled all over the United States. Jim attended more than 20 schools before he graduated from high school in Woodward, Oklahoma. It was in Woodward that he met Mary Feese. They attended Oklahoma Baptist University together and married in 1962. Their two children are Cindy and Wesley Payne.
Jim graduated with a Teaching degree from OBU and taught for 8 years in Cordell while working on his Masters in Natural Sciences at OSU. The family moved to Grapevine, Texas in 1971 to teach science at Grapevine High School. He taught AP Chemistry and Physics there for 29 years, retiring in 2000. Jim has received numerous awards and recognitions, including Outstanding Physics Teacher of Texas in 1981. As part of the International Mission Board’s Master’s Program, Jim was a Senior Lecturer in physics at the National In-Service Teacher Training College in Chalimbana, Zambia.
Jim loved painting, creating stained glass and people. He followed his father in the love of photography, taking a majority of the photos for family reunions and trips.
In 1981 Jim married Sherry Gazaway Baker and became father to Lauren and Chris Baker. He was an active member in the First Baptist Church-Grapevine serving as a deacon, teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, serving on committees, working with International Friends, singles ministry and many other ministries, even driving the youth in the church bus. Volunteer Christian Builders was an important part of each summer. He and Sherry made mission trips to Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, eight months in Ecuador and two years with the IMB in Zambia.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, W.C. Payne and his younger brother, Michael Carter Payne. He is survived by his mother Algia Payne, his wife Sherry, his daughter Cindy Payne Rutter and her husband Michael Rutter, his son Wesley Ray Payne and his wife Sophia Morgan, his son Christopher Baker, daughter Lauren Baker Crawford and husband Darren, brother Douglas Payne wife Pauline, sister Glenda Payne and uncle Homer Payne.