John Lance Payton, 52, of Greenwood, Arkansas, formerly of Edwardsville, Illinois passed away Saturday, July 8, 2023 in a Fort Smith hospital. John worked with four companies over the course of his career in management. Most recently, he worked in safety management. He enjoyed the safety field, training employees and working accident investigations. He was always looking for ways to create a safer environment for the employees. He enjoyed volunteering at church on the safety team and supporting his boy’s youth events, those activities ranged from Logan’s sporting events (baseball and football), to fishing and running model trains with Sam. He was very involved in the boy’s lives and education. John was most excited about moving back to Arkansas with his family to start a cattle farm on his family’s land.
He is survived by his wife, Kendra Payton of the home; two sons, Logan Daniel Payton and Samuel David Payton both of the home; his mother, Linda (Hope) Payton of Tulsa, OK; one brother, Jason Payton and wife, Keya of Tulsa, OK; his father-in-law, David Renner of Greenwood and sister-in-law, Ashley Wieneke and husband, Matthew of Greenwood. He was preceded in death by his father, COL Larry Payton, grandparents, Ray and Delephlene Hope and Jack and Viva Payton and his mother-in-law, M. Alane Renner.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Friday, July 14 at Pine Log Church in Barber with burial at Pine Log Cemetery under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Viewing will be Thursday from 1 – 7 p.m. at the funeral home, where the family will visit with friends from 4 – 7 p.m. A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 29 at 3 p.m. at Bethalto Church of God in Bethalto, Illinois.
Pallbearers will be Jason Payton, Logan Payton, Samuel Payton, David Renner, Brad Myers and Jason Ferrell. Honorary pallbearers will Matthew Wieneke, Timothy Minnick and Drew Ponivas.
In lieu of flowers, savings accounts have been established at Farmers Bank for Logan and Samuel Payton’s college fund.
To share a memory or leave a message for the family, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.
