Charlotte Marilyn Payton

My mother, Charlotte, was born February 5, 1931, in Immanuel hospital, Omaha, Nebraska. She died in her home February 21, 2025, 16 days after her 94th birthday.

Charlotte is survived by her three children, Jim (me) and his wife, Michelle, Rick and Robin and Robin’s husband Dave, 8 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great grandchildren.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband Richard Payton; and by her 4 Siblings (3 Sisters and 1 Brother).

In January of 2012 Charlotte (mom) wrote a one-page memoir of her life story.

Following is what she wrote in that memoir:

"Feb. 5, 1931, born in Omaha, Nebraska. Lived and played there till 14 ¾ years old. Moved to California – arrived September 21, 1945.

On October 28, 1945, I met my future husband, Richard Desmond Payton. It was his 15th birthday.

Married him February 6, 1948, the day after my 17th birthday.

We had 3 children: Jim (May 7, 1949), Ricky (March 22, 1952), and Robin (August 15,1957).

We, as a family, moved a lot.

We had our “ups and downs” like all married people.

We went to church off and on. Couldn’t seem to find a church that suited my beliefs.

Worked at different jobs – movie theater ticket booth, shoe store, jewelry store as credit manager, Bank of America for 20 years.

Retired in January of 1991.

My husband passed on July 24, 1994 – we were married 46 ½ years.

I lost everything in 1999 and filed bankruptcy.

I moved to San Diego in March of 2000, got a job and worked for 3 years.

I joined Skyline Church at that time, but I don’t remember the exact date.

I finally found a church for me and lots and lots of loving friends.

I am very blessed and content.

There are a few things that I can remember about life with mom that she didn’t mention in her reflections. Mom never mentioned she had a brain tumor that required 3 brain surgeries, and in that same time frame of her brain surgeries my dad had two open hearts surgeries and developed leukemia. It was the leukemia that took his life."

Mom wrote another short memoir that I have not been able to locate. She wrote her meditations on the fact, as mom would often say, “she needed a brain, dad needed a new heart and they both needed courage to get through all the health struggles of those years,” that always made her think that she was like Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ, with her friends the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion.

Mom never mentioned that in my first 4 or 5 years of life with her we moved to the middle of the Mohave desert and lived in a tent on a vacant lot with no house, no water or electricity and only woodstove for heat and cooking. (1949 -1953/54).

Mom and I were together for 75 ¾ years. She was the best mom, ever.

Toward the end she and I would pray every night together. We would pray the 23rd Psalm and then we would recite the Lord’s prayer. We would finish with special requests for loved ones and always a part of our prayer was, “Lord, we know that the end is near, and the going has been tough, please let mom just fall to sleep here on earth and wake up in heaven to be with you. In the holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen”

And you know what God did, mom fell asleep.

A Graveside Service for Charlotte will be held Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 10:00 Aa.m. at Clovis Cemetery, 305 North Villa Avenue, Clovis, Calicornia 93612.

WEBSITE INVITATION

Please join us in remembering Charlotte Marilyn Payton by visiting our memorial at

www.boicefuneralhome.com

Through this site, we invite you to view cherished photos and videos, add a memory, and share the obituary with others via social media and email.