June Lavon Payne

June Lavon Payne, 87, of Troy, Texas, passed peacefully on Friday, October 31st, 2025, surrounded by loved ones in her final days. Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 5th from 9-10am followed directly by the memorial service at 10am. Both will be held at the Troy United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Roberts Cemetery just north of Troy.

June was born to Lila B. Hargrove and Otis Goode in Troy, Texas on January 7th, 1938. She graduated Troy High School in 1955, and married her high school sweetheart that same year, Robert Burnell Payne. Upon graduating from high school, she worked as a dental assistant in Dr. Marshall's office in Temple for two years, followed by three years with the Retail Merchants Association's credit bureau. Ultimately, she began working as the company's executive secretary for Duplex Products, where she spent 28 years until she retired. Later in life, June and her husband became a small business operating a family-owned store in Troy called Payne Grocery and Mart from 1995 to 1997.

Though retirement finally came, things didn't slow down one bit. June was commonly known as the matriarch of the Payne family, and honored that title by serving the needs her family, church, and community however was needed. She would always be seen at Troy Trojan & Trojanette sporting events, along with Burnell, but prioritized family and fellowship above all else. For the greater part of two decades, she would gather the entire family and prepare a Sunday dinner after church. Her faith was incredibly important to her core values, and she served others on her faith journey by ensuring that each was offered loving meals and heartfelt conversation along theirs.

As a prominent member of the Troy United Methodist Church, she remained a member until her death, and even attended Sunday School and weekly services until she could no longer make the trips from her nursing home. After her husband's passing in 2021, she spent time in two facilities: Park Place Manor (Belton) and Wesley Woods (Woodway). Both provided intimate caregiving services in a way that honored her legacy as a servant leader. She was eventually placed into the hospice care of Compassus in early summer, and remained under their supervision as well until the end. The Payne family would like to offer the most heartfelt thanks to all the nursing and administrative staff that helped care for our mother over the past 4 years, as they not only took the time to understand her needs, but also found opportunities to be her friends.

June's life was centered around her family and her faith. She was cherished by all who came to know her, and the stories of her kindness continue to be discovered by her family as time marches on. Her reunion with our father and so many others was not a fate she hoped to meet, but rather an expected promise of her faith that finally took full shape as she said goodbye on her final day to all 5 of her children.

Preceded in death by both her parents, her brother Bob Goode, and her daughter Angie Lanae Payne.

She is survived by her brother Cecil Goode of Temple, his wife Debbie Goode; daughter Phyllis Lynch of Troy, her husband Dr. Matt Lynch, grandson Tyler Lynch, great granddaughter Aubrey Lynch, great grandson Aiden Lynch, grandson Zachary Lynch, his wife Sara Lynch; daughter Connie Williamson of Salado, her husband Ted Williamson, granddaughter April Sudbury, her husband Aaron Sudbury; grandson Bradley Mikes, his wife Maddy Mikes, great granddaughter Lillie Mikes, great granddaughter Bella Mikes, great grandson Jaxon Rowley, great granddaughter Zoey Rowley, grandson Jeremy Mikes, his wife Kacy Mikes, great grandson Colter Mikes, great granddaughter Kylie Mikes, granddaughter Shelley Martinez, her husband Terry Martinez, great granddaughter Angel Martinez, great granddaughter Sevy Martinez, grandson Kevin Williamson; son Kyle Payne of Troy, his wife Robin Payne, grandson Brandon Payne, his wife Cassi Payne, great granddaughter Bristol Payne, great granddaughter Caroline Payne, great granddaughter Arwen Payne, granddaughter Ashley Casey, her husband Whitlee Casey, granddaughter Maegan Payne; son Scott Payne of Temple; son Brett Payne of Troy, his wife Maggie Payne, granddaughter Harper Payne, granddaughter Hadley Payne.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Troy First United Methodist Church (https://www.troymethodist.org/).