Robert E. Payne

Robert E. Payne, age 78, of Windsor, CO (formerly of Merriam, KS) died on December 4, 2017. Bob was born March 9, 1939, in Denver, Colorado, the son of William “Lyle” Payne, Sr. and Florence “Flo” Payne. He graduated from the University of Denver in 1961. Immediately after graduation, he married Carolyn Manley, also a student at the University, from Chicago.

Bob’s major had been Radio and Television Broadcasting. During college, he worked as a disc jockey at a number of Denver radio stations. He then worked at stations in Farmington, New Mexico and Ogden, Utah (where he was known as the “Mad Daddy” and broadcast from Rusty’s Drive In.) Upon moving back to Denver, he became News Director and then was sent to Kansas City, Missouri as Operations Manager of a brand new radio station KAYQ on the Country Club Plaza. Later, he was offered a position in advertising with the Schlitz Brewing Co. He spent the next 21 years working for them and the Stroh Brewery Co. in Milwaukee and Detroit while traveling a great deal on business.

Bob was a member of the Masons and Shriners. The Shriners completely support 22 children’s hospitals. In 1995 he accepted a position with the Abdallah Shrine Center in Overland Park, Kansas as their Building Administrator. This was a position with many varied responsibilities, and Bob enjoyed it thoroughly for 11 years before retiring.

Bob and Carolyn were able to make two trips to Europe and one to Mexico and one to Canada and spent time at their condo in Florida. Since September, 2014, faced with health problems, he has been living in Colorado where their younger son and his family reside. Many thanks to Columbine Commons Assisted Living.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, William Lyle Payne, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; sons Martin (Jackie) of Long Beach, CA and Michael (Brooke) of Windsor, CO; grandsons Brendan of Santa Clara, CA and Duncan of Windsor, CO; two granddaughters Beatrix and Amelia Payne of Windsor, CO; and nieces Mindy Lambert and Robin Marshall of Denver area.

A family memorial service and inurnment will be held at a later date.