Janie Catherine Payne

Janie Catherine Payne, "Nana," danced into Heaven at age 85 on Saturday, October 14, 2017. Janie was born to Jim and Cora Fowler in Kaufman, Texas on April 22, 1932. She had a sister Jean Springer and a baby brother, James Ross Fowler. She was the drum major at Kaufman High School where she met the love of her life, the Band Director William Ernest Payne. They were married on June 11, 1949 and moved to Fort Worth early in their marriage. Janie and Bill raised three children, William Bruce, Gary Ernest, and Kathy Lynne. The Payne family was actively involved as members of South Hills Baptist Church. Bill was the music director for 17 years where Janie sang faithfully in the choir. She also served as a teacher for Sunday School and Training Union, as well as Nursery Coordinator and served as the president of the WMU for her church just as her mother and her sister had. Her job experiences included being the secretary for physicians, an attorney and a CPA. She also worked as Department Secretary at All Saints and a Medical Transcriptionist for Cook Children's PICU. Janie was a wonderful wife, mother, Nana, and great-Nana that loved spending time with her family more than anything. Her eyes sparkled when she was with her grandkids and great grandbabies. She also loved going to the theatre, especially when it was to see her son, Gary. She loved the work that her son Bruce did with his music and story of Townes Van Zandt. She loved to talk about her kids and grandkids and all of their lives. She also really enjoyed working with the people in the PICU that were so supportive of her and treated her like family. She was so appreciative of the love and support through the years, especially after Bill died and after her neck injury. Thanks to Bailey and Renee for giving us 14 and a half more years with her after breaking her neck! Janie was a true movie addict. She had all of her movies listed in alphabetical order and even marked when she last watch them. She so enjoyed going out to lunch with her friends and trying new places; road trips were some of her favorites and she loved to drive. She was a sassy feisty lady that loved living life to the fullest. Oh, and she did love her bling! Janie was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Payne; parents, Cora and Jim Fowler; brother James Ross Fowler nephew Rick Springer. She is survived by her sister, Jean Springer; her son and daughter-in-law Bruce Payne and Dorothy Barra Payne, son Gary Payne, Daughter and son-in-law Kathy and Bob Grieser; her grandchildren and her "grandkids-in-law," Chad and Kelly Grieser; Billy and Anne Grieser, Kimberly Grieser Carnes and Bradley Carnes; her great grandbabies Cody and Kylie Grieser, and Nolan and Eric Carnes as well as numerous family members and a host of friends. Her memorial service will be at 10:00am on Friday October 20, 2017 at Church at the Crossing in Aledo Texas. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Cook Children's PICU. "Do not mourn for me, I had a long and wonderful life. I have enjoyed my children, my grandchildren and my great grandchildren, and my little dog 'toot'." -Janie