Jerry L. Payne

Jerry Lee Payne, 84, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Sunday, July 30, 2023 at Stillwater Hospice Home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A lifelong resident of Fairmount, he was renowned and beloved by everyone. His kind, gentle and generous spirit resulted in an abundance of treasured friends.

He began working at his grandfather George’s service station at the age of 12, eventually becoming the third generation to own Payne’s Shell Service. He worked 12 hours a day, six days a week for 37 years at the station, building relationships with those in the community that continued well past his retirement. After reluctantly closing the station in 1988, he continued to offer it as a gathering place on warm summer evenings for his many friends to exchange stories and the days’ events. Many a tall tale was spun at each Social Hour.

Having an interest in holistic healing, he began practicing Reflexology in the 1980’s, offering another avenue of pain relief to his patients. In any conversation, upon hearing of an ache or pain, he would immediately suggest a pressure point to try to remedy the issue.

He was a member of the Fairmount High School Class of ’57, and over the years volunteered with the Jaycees and the Fairmount Lions Club. At the age of 21, he joined Fairmount Masonic Lodge #635 and remained a member for 63 years until his death. He was a passionate supporter of the Fairmount Fire Department, which hosts Jerry Payne Day, an annual antique tractor show, in his honor.

He had a love for Gravely and John Deere tractors, and an extensive knowledge of vintage cars. He had an impressive ability to identify the make, model and year of any car build from the 30’s to the 70’s. You could often see Jerry cruising town in his treasured ‘51 Chevy truck and hear the distinctive sound of its pipes as he “gave it a drink”.

One of Jerry’s endearing attributes was his famously slow pace. He never did anything fast, including telling his many stories. He used his humor and wit to assign a nickname to nearly everyone he knew.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, David and Hazel Payne, and his eldest daughter Jennifer Payne, who shared many of the same character traits as her father. He is survived by the love of his life, Shirley (Dean) Payne with whom he shared nearly 65 years of marriage. Other survivors include his daughters Julie (Gary) Harbert of Fairmount, Jill (Doug) Hurst of Medina, Ohio and his grandchildren, who he was immensely proud of: Erin Harbert, New York City; Chad (Emma) Harbert, Marion, Indiana; Jeff and Eric Hurst, Medina Ohio. Over the years Jerry and Shirley also formed special bonds with their “adopted” children Amy (Jon) Walker of Springfield, Illinois and Rick (Julie) Clevenger of Fulton, Missouri.

Visitation service will be from 3 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 Armes-Hunt Funeral Home, 415 S. Main Street,  Fairmount where the funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2023.   A Masonic Service will be at 6:45 PM on Wednesday.

Memorial contributions can be made in his name to Fairmount Masonic Lodge #635, in care of the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.armeshuntfuneralhome.com