John Paysse

John Paysse, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend to many, businessman, and lifetime resident of Temple, Texas, was born February 10, 1942, to Walter and Martha Paysse. After graduation from Temple High School, John attended North Texas State University where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Shortly after graduation, John married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Palla, where together in Temple they created a loving Christian home, owned and operated Cen-Tex Fence Company, and raised their son, Kenny, and daughter, Sandy.

John believed passionately in community engagement and donated much of his time to church leadership, the Temple Jaycees, Temple Chamber of Commerce, Temple Area Homebuilders Association, Leadership Temple, and Keep Temple Beautiful.

John’s greatest delight in life was spending time at the cabin he and his family built in 1982 in beautiful Creede, Colorado, close to the headwaters of the Rio Grande River. This is the place that touched his heart most, the place where his fondest memories and some of his deepest friendships were made. These were the times when the busyness of life subsided and the simple pursuits of pleasure made his family the best of friends which lasted his lifetime.

John was a son of the seasons. He loved nothing more than being outdoors in the cool Texas bluebonnet spring, basking under the clear blue Colorado summer skies, riding up mountain roads in his Jeep embracing a crisp fall day under a canopy of quaking golden aspen trees, or moments of contemplation in his cabin as he paused to enjoy a winter morning, cradling a cup of coffee beside his Earth Stove. He was introspective, reflective, a keen artist, and a lifelong student of cars and car enthusiast, both old and new.

John taught his children by how he led. He lived the perfect balance between idleness and Ambition. He demonstrated the art of grit and grace between working hard and taking risks, and believed it was of equal importance to take time from your sowing to delight and savor the harvest from the fruits of your labor. He was a father who did not enable nor hand you success, but parented in a way that was more challenging; he encouraged and fervently believed that accomplishment and meaning is found in your own personal striving. He taught that at the end of our days it wasn’t our earthly gains that matter, but the satisfaction of the striving that meant far more. He believed that success isn’t measured monetarily, but in how you respond in defining moments; how you summon the courage within yourself as you stand before your personal steep mountain, alone, and figure out how to climb to the top, one step at a time, by your own wits and using the talents you’ve developed along the way.

After forty-nine years of marriage and the passing of the love of his life, Shirley, in 2013, John met and married Judy Hyer. They shared many years of joy and blessed companionship until Judy’s passing in 2024. John and Judy both took interest in the growth and activities of each other’s families, selflessly embracing the journey they each brought to their marriage.

The sanctity of John’s inscape, his inner character, was unquestionably marked with the handprint of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was a man of his word, he was faithfully committed to a life of doing what was right, and he was a father who demonstrated that God and his family came first. Dad will be missed, but the lessons he taught my brother and I and our families will be his legacy for generations to come.

John is survived by his son, Kenny (Becky) Paysse of Temple, daughter Sandy (Rodney) Deyoe of Bozeman, MT, and sister Dianne Tyroch of Humble. Stepchildren Todd (Melissa) Hyer of Salado, Julie (Lance) Turner of Aledo, Jan McGuire (Kerry Cater)Thomason of Leander, and Bill (Kerri) Doughty of Leander. Grandchildren Jonathan(Kelsi)Paysse of Temple, Andrew (Callie) Paysse of Temple, Matt(Beryl)Deyoe of Palo Alto, CA, William (Ava) Paysse of Temple, and step-granddaughter Kristi Deyoe (James) Jarvis of Austin. Great-grandchildren Gavin, Hayes, Noah, Palmer, Landon, and Blair Paysse, Campbell Jarvis, and a host of loving step- grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren John truly cherished in the final years of his life.

The family wishes to warmly thank Dr. Don Parker of Baylor Scott & White for his compassionate, excellent, and dedicated care. A Celebration of Life will be held on March 23rd at 10:00 a.m. at the Belton First United Methodist Church. The family requests that memorials be made to Belton First United Methodist Church, 205 E. 3rd Ave., Belton, TX 76513, or Creede Community Church, P.O. Box 126, Creede, CO, 81130.