Stephen Charles Payne

Steve was born in August 1940 to Charles and Janice Payne in Kansas City, Missouri. He was their first born and also the first grandchild for both sets of grandparents. Steve was the apple of everyone's eye so he was given loads of love and attention. His early years found him spending a great deal of time on his maternal grandparent's farm by the Missouri River in Missouri City, Missouri. His memories remained vivid of riding the tractor with Grandpa Jim and sleeping on Grandma Clara's big feather mattress. He also recalled feeding the animals and chasing fireflies in the summer. Steve was a Boy Scout and attended Central Methodist Church in Kansas City with his family. He loved sports especially baseball and played on his school teams in grade school and high school. At age 14, Steve moved to Phoenix with his parents and younger brother, David, to find a drier climate for his father who suffered from chronic respiratory issues. He enrolled at Camelback High School and made fast, life-long friends all of whom remained close throughout the years. He became involved in the Youth Group at Aldersgate Methodist Church extending his circle of friends in his new hometown. ...[more]

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e again he would enjoy his favorite sport of baseball by playing outfield for several years in the American Legion League in Phoenix. Steve was a member of the Camelback graduating class of '58 and remained active on their reunion committee right up to his passing. He spent some time at Phoenix College taking business classes before applying himself to full-time work in the Plastics business. He would spend 14 years working for several small businesses in Phoenix before setting out on his own with Plastifab, Inc. Starting in the back room of his friend's paint shop, he successfully grew the business to a storefront operation on Indian School Road. Steve's restless entrepreneurial spirit launched him into real estate and insurance businesses. He reached a career high point as a developer specializing in Auto Malls, a relatively new venture at the time that drew on his creative and visionary spirit. His successful career closed with his retirement from Bank of America as an Executive Mortgage Loan Officer. Looking at his industrious behaviors back to high school, Steve always had a new car. He worked hard to earn the money and rewarded himself with a new car about every other year. This love of cars and mechanical toys in general, stayed with him throughout his entire life. He would own RV's, motorcycles, exotic collectibles, and boats. He even won first place in a Drag Racing contest with his '59 Chevy Impala, his trophy still on display at his home. He would go on to be an active member of the Desert Boat and Ski club in roles of competitive driving and skiing. Steve was a big sports fan in general but absolutely loved NASCAR. For years he would attend races in Phoenix, Fontana, and Sonoma with his brothers and sons. "Those Payne Boys" as they came to be known. For his 60th birthday, he drove an actual NASCAR race car at Phoenix International Raceway. What a rush that was for him! Steve would continue to apply his athletic knowledge and passion into coaching his sons' Summer League baseball and Pop Warner football teams. He coached their Pop Warner Lobos team all the way to the State Championship in 1972. He married Cathy Butler, the love of his life 61 years ago and started a family, blessed with two sons, Timothy and Christopher. Steve inherited his love for his family from his parents who preceded him in death in 2010. Steve is survived by his wife, Cathy, sons Tim and Chris (Michele), Brother David (Kathy), Sister Debbie Childress (Robert), brother Kevin (Linda), brother-in-law Duane Butler (Beverley), sister-in-law Beverlee Matousek (Jim), and sister-in-law Carolyn Butler (Jack - with the Angels). He also leaves behind grandchildren Monica, Britney, Chase, Taylor, Colby, Tanner, Brianna, and Gabriella. Great grandchildren Aiden (with the Angels), Ashlin, Greyson, and Kaydan along with numerous nieces and nephews will long carry his memory from coast to coast. Services will be held at 3PM on August 13, 2022 at Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary on 6500 East Bell Road in Scottsdale with reception to follow, casual dress - Hawaiian shirts. Viewing to begin at 2PM. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation in Steve's name, located at 2929 East Camelback Road Suite #122, Phoenix, AZ 85016. For those unable to attend, the service will be live-streamed at the following link: https://vimeo.com/733713628