Evelyn Payne

Evelyn Lucille “Chicky” Payne, 100, died Thursday, April 26, 2012 in Ignacio, Colorado. Visitation will be held at Hood Mortuary Chapel on Monday from 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 1:00 P.M. at Ignacio Community Church. Burial will occur at Greenmount Cemetery in Durango.

Mrs. Payne was born October 10, 1911 in Durango, Colorado the daughter of Arthur and Dovie Jones. Mrs. Payne grew up in the Ignacio area and attended the Lower Spring Creek one room school house from first through eighth grades. Since she lived so far out in the country, she later attended the Fort Lewis Boarding High School in Hesperus, and then she attended Durango High School and graduated from there in 1929. She and her sister moved to Colorado Springs and attended Colorado College for two years and studied education. In 1931, they both returned to the area because the Great Depression hit, and their family home had burned down. She then began teaching at the Lower Spring Creek School at 19 years of age. In 1935, she met and married Glen Payne. They were "secretly married" in Silverton because being in education, school teachers were not allowed to be married. Also, during the Great Depression, households were only allowed one person to hold a job. So she and Glen (who was employed on the Vallecito Dam project) kept their marriage quiet. She moved with Glen to Vallecito and began to raise their family. Their son Jackson was born and then two or three years later, they moved to the ranch south of Ignacio. In the late 1940's, Evelyn returned back to teaching at the Holder School and then also started to teach primary school in Ignacio. In 1950, Evelyn and Glen had their second child, Glenda, and she stayed home for a few years and then returned back to teaching in 1956. She taught until 1977. Glen became ill and she became his primary caregiver. He passed away in 1981. While on her ranch, Evelyn enjoyed gardening, cooking (she made the best banana nut bread and peanut butter fudge), and being with her beloved family. She was a member of the Ignacio Community Church and of Delta Kappa Gamma (teacher's association). She was a very soft spoken person and had a fondness for animals. She took great pride in being able to drive until she was 96 years old, and she was well traveled, having traveled all over the United States and many other countries.

She is survived by Glenda (Roy) Hocker (daughter) of Ignacio, CO, Jackson (Blanche) Payne (son) of Ignacio, CO, Grandchildren: Heather Hocker-Sutherland, Heidi (Bret) Newlin, Rocky (Adia) Hocker, Rodney (Kelsey) Hocker, Marcella (Gerry) Martinez, Cheryl Payne, Linda Payne, 12 great grandchildren, numerous other family members.

She was preceded in death by her husband Glen, her parents Arthur & Dovie Jones, her grandson Scott Payne, and her sister Alberta Parry.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Mercy, 1 Mercado St., Suite 270, Durango, CO 81301 or Spring Creek Community Association, c/o Larry Garner.