Theodore Robert Payne

What do we say about a man who lived life fully but died too soon? Ted, possessed with an endless stream of useless knowledge, was always good for an obscure fact, a discussion on the finer points of a (sometimes) funny joke, and to be the life of the party. This all started from an early age as he kept his family, as well as himself, in stitches including the time he ran smack into the side of a moving van. His older sisters Dara and Lydia described him as a goofy, if not trying, kid. When he was born in Canton, OH on September 22, 1965, his father Charlie was pleased as punch to have a boy to name after his Uncle Tedore. His mom, Marla, ensures us he has always had a unique was of being in this world.

Though we don’t know how or why he left this mortal plane on Sunday July 20, 2022, we do know that Ted was a good, kind man, if a little odd. His enormous capacity for caring allowed him many LOVES in his life.

Always a lucky guy, Ted found 3 great loves as a teenager. He wandered into a radio station in Sherman, TX and fell in love with radio, where he went from getting hired to fiddle with knobs to becoming one of the best audio plumbers in the business. He started bicycling (mostly to get to his jobs) and fell in love with the Tour de France. This carried on throughout his life causing his children much embarrassment when he showed up at their schools in spandex. He also fell in love with music and taught himself to play the guitar. With hopes of being a rock star in the 1980’s he grew his hair long and played in multiple bands around Sherman and later in Deep Ellum in Dallas culminating with a record contract with Psycho Betty.

Though rock star Ted loved the ladies, in 1988 he met and eventually married Jennifer Nichols. The newlyweds moved to Dallas and Ted got a job at a little 50,0000 watt radio station, KRLD, where he worked in its many iterations for almost 32 years.

After 3 years of practicing dad jokes on Jennifer they had Anika Wynne. His first BIG LOVE, even if he didn’t like her much until she got cute at 3 months.

Now working full time, Ted continued to work at KRLD and eventually started engineering Cowboys and Rangers games. At the office Christmas party, Ted won a cruise and 9 months later Emma Clare was born, his next BIG LOVE.

When the end of the world was nigh (Y2K), the family was delighted and surprised to welcome his newest BIG LOVE, Zoe Maye, to the family.

Ted also loved Pop Culture including Marvel, DC, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Broadway shows, and Disney. The Nichols-Payne family took a trip to Disney World every time a child was turning 3 (no charge if they’re under 3) and after every graduation from high school.

After 18 years, Ted and Jenn decided to no longer be a couple, but they worked hard to keep their family a strong LOVING unit. Ted was lucky enough to find love again with Katy and her sons, Josh and Matt.

While Ted presented to the world an almost perpetual happy persona, it is also true that he struggled with depression his whole life. Thankfully, with professional help and good meds, he bested those demons and was able to continue to advocate for mental health with friends and families.

Ted would be humbled by the attention his death has garnered (though we think he would secretly have loved it). Countless people from far and wide have felt his loss, but none greater than the loved ones he left behind. He is survived by his daughters, Anika, Emma and Zoe, as well as his mother, Marla, and sister Dara. He leaves behind his girlfriend and her sons (Katy, Josh, and Matt), his ex-wife (Jennifer), 3 nephews (Robert, Daniel, and Jeremy), 1 niece (Avery), and ex-in-laws (Nani, Bop, and Laura).

A Celebration of the great TNP will be held July 20, 2022 at 11:00 am at First Unitarian Church 4015 Normandy Ave Dallas, TX 75205 Guests are invited to wear their loudest clothes in honor of Ted’s crazy fashion sense (Mickey ears encouraged)

Donations in honor of Ted may be made to Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County or NAMI.