Mary Ann (St. John) Payne

Funeral services for Mary Ann (St. John) Payne, 82, of Sperry, were held Wednesday, August 3, 2016 at First Baptist Church in Sperry, OK. Reverend Andy Anquoe officiated and burial was in Ridgelawn Cemetery in Collinsville, OK. Casket bearers were Justin Payne, Russell Hanes, Randy Pope, Jeff Young, Dante Pope, Caleb Jernigan and Eric Payne and Tristan Owens. Honorary casket bearers were Roy Wolf, Jerry Burd, Mike Haney, Bill Fisher, Gerald Cypert, Larry Eddings, Ron Howard, Larry Carter, Jeff Bailey, Buryl Hughes, Mary’s Special Girlfriends from Church, and All of Her Church Family.

Mary was born September 11, 1933 in Bryan County, OK to Hollis Virgil and Clara Anna (Privett) St. John. She passed away July 31, 2016 in Tulsa, OK.

Mary graduated from Owasso High School in 1951. She married Mace Fortune Payne in February 1952 and their union was blessed with three sons. She was a charter member of the Owasso First Baptist Church and was a member of the Sperry First Baptist Church for over 60 years. Mary was employed at Sperry Schools as the high school secretary for 19 years. She enjoyed following all of Brent’s baseball teams and keeping the score for Sperry basketball games. Mary also enjoyed making blankets and traveling. She was faithful to attend all of the Owasso High Alumni breakfasts and loved her church family at First Baptist Church Sperry.

She is survived by her sisters, Sue Howard and husband Ron of Oologah and Betty Jasmine of Inola; sister-in-law, Billie St. John Arney of Yukon, OK; children, Lewis Brent Payne and wife Kari of Claremore, and David Mace Payne and wife Sandy of Turley; grandchildren, Eric David Payne and wife Becky of Broken Arrow;, Deanna Janelle Pope and husband Randy of Owasso, Natalie Rhuenae Young and husband Jeff of Claremore, Brittni Ann Jernigan and husband Caleb of Oologah, and Justin Brent Payne of Claremore and his fiancé Cassandra Guthmueller of Oklahoma City; great-grandchildren, Sierra Peak, Christiana Martinez, Dante Pope, Campbell Payne, Conleigh Payne, Grace Pope, Colson Jernigan, Cooper Young, Carson Young, and Jude Jernigan; nieces, Carolyn St. John and family, Marquita Boyd and family, Dixie St. John and family, Ronola Mattison and family, Connie Howard and family, Judy Howard and family, Allison McClung and family, Shawn Duncan and family, and Angela Lewallen and family; nephews, Kent St. John and family, Chris St. John and family and Tony St. John and family; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hollis Virgil and Clara Anna St. John; brother, Everett Albert St. John; husband, Mace Fortune Payne; and son, Hollis Dean Payne.

Memorial donations in Mary's memory may be made to First Baptist Church, PO Box 907, Sperry, OK 74073.