Gene Payne

Gene Allan Payne passed away on Thursday, December 20, 2018 in his home in St. George, Utah, one week after celebrating his 83rd birthday.
Gene was born on December 13, 1935 at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah. He and his wife, Margo Loretta Evans Payne, were married on June 9, 1954 in Blackfoot, Idaho. They were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on June 17, 1956.

Gene is survived by Margo and their eight children—Lorie (Ben Gambino), Curt (Sheri Peay), Kent (Laura Bagley), Karen (Lin Smith), Teri (Brad Andrus), Mary (John Murphy), Carol (Scotty Stiefel) and Anne—as well as 36 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
The son of James Doolan Payne and Marie Naomi Bohe Payne, Gene grew up in downtown Salt Lake City, where he went to Oquirrh Elementary, Bryant Junior High, and West High School.

He had two sisters, Beverley (Joseph Johnson) and Donna (Edward Parker, Verl Dahl).
Gene was a serial entrepreneur, owning an appliance, electronics and furniture business that leased space at the Paris Department Store and, later, the ZCMI Home Store. He also co-owned Payne Anthony Jewelers, with locations in Salt Lake City at Trolley Square and in Colorado.
He also spent six years in the National Guard.
Gene and Margo were able to serve several missions together for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—in Samara, Russia; British Columbia, Canada; Richmond, Virginia; and St. George, Utah.

Gene loved his family, buttery popcorn, racquetball, boating and much, much more, and he was beloved by his family and friends for his adventurous spirit and unrelenting kindness.

Funeral services will be held Friday, December 28, 2018 from 11am–noon at the LDS chapel at 1535 East Creek Road, Sandy, Utah 84093. A viewing will be held from 9:30–10:30am prior to the funeral services.