James Joseph Payton
August 30, 1935 - November 23, 2002

James Payton TIPTON, Iowa #45;- James Joseph Payton, 67, of 514 W. Seventh St., Tipton, died Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, after respiratory complications. Services are 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Fry Funeral Home, Tipton. The Rev. Ron Lasmit will officiate. Pallbearers are Buck Kelley, Carl Kelley, Kenny Kelley, John Paul, Scott Heick, Bruce Lovell and Kevin Kelley. Burial will be at Tipton Masonic Cemetery, Tipton, with military rites conducted by the National Guard. Visitation is 4-7 p.m. today at the funeral home. A memorial has been established. Mr. Payton was born on Aug. 30, 1935, in Iowa City, the son of Francis and Stella Mae Bemrose Payton. He married Beverly Grassfield in Nashua. He later married Elsie Mae Schemmel Kelley on May 20, 1995, in Tipton. He graduated from Anamosa High School. He was a meat cutter for Eagles and an owner/operator of E.J. Trucking. He was of the protestant faith. He was high school valedictorian and high school All-American in football. He was a past member of the American Legion, the Eagles in Cedar Rapids and the Meat Cutters Union. Survivors include his wife, Elsie; children, James Payton and wife Sheryl, Rick Payton and wife Paula, Dan Payton, Tom Payton and wife Cindy, Buck Kelley and wife Kathy, Carl Kelley and wife Robin, Connie Lynn Paul and husband John, Kenneth Kelley and wife Stacy, Vicki Lynn Heick and husband Scott and Kevin Lee Kelley; 13 grandchildren; two sisters, Pauline Hansan and Lois Colbin; four brothers, Woodrow Payton, Louis Payton, Wayne Payton and Marion Payton; and a sister-in-law, Jenny Payton. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, John Payton; and a daughter, Sam Kelley.

Tributes