Alvie Payne

Alvie E. Payne, 99 of Kearney died Saturday, April 7th at the St. Luke's Home in Kearney. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Kearney. The Rev. Gary Main will officiate. Masonic rites will be conducted at the church by the Rob Morris Lodge #46 of Kearney. Interment will be in the Kearney Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church or Shriner's Hospitals for Children or the University of Nebraska Foundation. On-line condolences may be submitted to osrfh.com. O'Brien - Straatmann - Redinger Funeral Home of Kearney is in charge of arrangements. Alvie was born in Bertrand September 23rd 1912 to John and Catherine (Griffith) Payne. At the age of 2 years he and his family moved to Overton. He was graduated from Overton Senior High in 1930. After school he worked for the family on the farm for 4 years. By this point he had reached the conclusion he should get a college education. He attended Kearney State College, where he earned a degree in Business Education in 1939. In August of 1939 he married Ruth Sherer. He was hired as a superintendent of schools at Meadow Grove until 1943. Due to the war, he became an assistant to the administrator of the Grand Island Ordinance Plant for a brief time. He then served as Civilian Administrator at the Kearney Airbase for the remainder of the war. Afterward, in October of 1945 Jim Larson and Alvie formed a partnership creating the business known as Payne-Larson Furniture in the old Kearney Opera House. He was active in the business for many years. He was very involved in the community and various positions: President of the following positions: Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, Kearney State College Alumni Board, Kearney State College Foundation Board, Nebraska State Retail Merchants Association, Payne Enterprises, and Nebraska Club of the Sun Cities, just to name a few. He also served on the board of: First National Bank, Kearney, Central Platte Natural Resources District, Kearney Civic Development Corp., Buffalo County Historical Society, Nebraska Public Power District, First United Methodist Church, Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church (Sun City West, Arizona), Kearney Rob Morris Masonic Lodge #46, Tehama Shrine and Golden K Kiwanis Club. Throughout his long years of service he has received several awards, including Kearney State College " Distinguished Service Award, Kearney Jaycees" Boss of the Year Award, Friend of Kearney Award, and Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce" Service Award. Alvie had many hobbies -- both he and Ruth loved to play golf. While in Sun City West he took painting lessons and he has many paintings that he was quite proud of. Flying became a passion with him and eventually he acquired his own plane. Fishing was yet another sport that he so enjoyed, and he had many fish stories to tell. Alvie & Ruth traveled extensively, not only in the USA, but, abroad as well. Following Ruth's death in 2002 Alvie became acquainted with Marian Brown who became his companion until he passed away. Survivors include sons, John and wife JoDell and Ron and wife Nita, all of Kearney; grandchildren, Linda Kitt and husband Ron of Kearney, Nancy Payne and husband Ben Goodkind of Arlington, VA, Steven Payne and wife Lauren of Jacksonville, NC, Travis Payne and wife Susan of Lincoln; Valerie Caldwell and husband Jerry of Austin, TX, Trevor Payne of Kearney, Matt Payne and wife Jeni of Austin, MN, Andrea Wood and husband Eric of Dallas, TX and Mark Payne and wife Tyia of Kearney; 20 great-grandchildren; brother, Edwin Payne of Sarasota, FL; and companion, Marian Brown. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brother, Allen Payne; sister, Sara Conner and husband Glenn Conner; son, Charles Payne; and granddaughter, Ann Payne.

Alvie Payne

September 23, 1912 - April 7, 2012