James Donnelly Payne

Disclaimer: The following obituary was written by Judy Payne and Lyle Payne. All dates and facts are to the best of recollection. There may be some facts that are in fact embellishments…near the end. Enjoy

Jim was born James Biddle on September 19, 1938. He was then placed in an orphanage with 7 siblings. Jim was the last child to be adopted. He was adopted by Madge and Glen Payne at the age of 9. He lived on a ranch in Ramona, Oklahoma. When Jim was 14, he moved to Pawhuska to live with an aunt. He would work on his Aunt’s farm and enjoyed playing basketball. He had a horse by the name of sonny, which he eventually brought back to his home in Norman, Oklahoma. He wanted his children to experience the joy of owning a horse and the sweet aroma of horse shit. At the age of 17(1955), Jim joined the Army and spent most of his time in Germany, where he would enjoy pretzels, beer and frauleins. He received his GED in the Army. Jim would receive an honorable discharge (August 19, 1958). Jim then moved to Odessa, Texas and worked for Haliburton Oil as a pumper. Jim had a strong desire to search for his siblings at this time. Wanda, the oldest sibling, was on the same quest. The state finally allowed Jim the information to contact Wanda. This led Jim to Kingfisher, Oklahoma where Wanda was living. Wanda and Jim spent the next few years searching for the other sisters and the one brother. The state would only allow Wanda and Jim the contact information of the other siblings if those siblings were also on the same search. This search took several years, but they were finally successful.

Jim married Judy Hawkins in Kingfisher on May 6, 1962. And, poof a son, Troy Payne, was born on December 9, 1962(don’t try to do the math….this was a progressive time). Troy would have 4 children of his own, Brittney, Tyler, Tanner, and JT. Jim would have 2 great grand-daughters from Brittney by the name of Jolee and Brinlyn. He would also have 2 great-grand daughters from Tyler by the name of Payton and Lindey. By this time Jim was working for BJ service, a oil servicing company When BJ Service shut down operations in Kingfisher in 1964, he and one of his buddies went to work for a trucking company and they drove an LA route. He wasn’t fond of that job, because it was a 4 day turn around and he was away from home so much. And, Poof a 2nd son, Lyle, was born on August 17, 1964. Lyle would wed 3 times and as of last year’s joint tax filing Mindy is still here. Lyle had Zachary and Seth.

Jim was shopping for a new car to haul his growing family around. A great deal was made with the salesman and the salesman told him he should be selling cars not buying them. Jim took a 30 day leave from the trucking company to get his feet wet with the RT Ayers Chevy, in Yukon, Oklahoma. Jim excelled in his first month of selling cars. He was told if he sold one car every other day, he would be doing good. The word was out in Yukon about a truck driver that sold 30 cars his first month. Jim traded in his overalls and trucker boots bought a 3-piece suit and went selling cars full-time. RT Ayers Chevy closed shop and he went to work for Jackie Cooper in Yukon. He and Jackie became great friends. Poof, December 16, 1967 is here, you guessed it a daughter, Renae, was born. Renae would wed Eric Wagner and they had Ashley, Hailey, Brody, Chaney, Blakley, Corley, Bentley and Briley (No we are not Catholic…..but we are a progressive family). Jim would have a great-granddaughter from Hailey by the name of Tinsley.

In 1969, Jim went to work for Louie Gander Buick in Oklahoma City as a new car manager.

After working at numerous dealerships in Yukon, OKC, and Norman he got quite a following and reputation. During his stay in Norman, Jim was a big OU supporter. He even had the opportunity to sell a car to Buddy Ebsen aka Jed Clampett, of the TV show The Beverly Hillbillies. (Now is the time for you millennials to go to IMDB and look this guy up, he was famous). 20 years later, Lyle would run into an old school friend. This friend would remember Jim bragging how he had sold 8 corvettes in one day at sticker price. “Remember sticker is quicker” Jim would say. Of course, this is long before the TRUE Value Car APP.

About 1973, Jim moved his family to Tulsa to work for Doenges Brothers Ford. Jim’s main hobby was drag racing. He and his son, Troy, both had race cars. The cars were named Killing time 1 and Killing Time 2. There were times they would race against each other and you never knew who was going to win. Jim also enjoyed roller blading along riverside, fly fishing, and was occasionally found at the local master’s swing dancing competition’s with Judy, around the tri-state region.

Jim would continue working in the car business until his retirement. After retirement, Jim would live and work in the Nepal region to become a Sherpa for a Himalayan backpacking company. He put his sales skills back into action by buying, selling and leasing Llamas and Alpacas to the locals, always the salesman.

Jim is also survived by Brittney’s husband Jerry, Tyler’s wife, Amanda, Ashley’s husband Stacey, and Hailey’s husband Ryan.

Jim was a great Husband, Dad, granddad, and great-granddad, and friend to many. He will be missed.

Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt's Tulsa Funeral Service & Cremation Care Centers. Friends and family may leave their condolences and memories on James tribute page at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com