Janice Payne
Janice Payne
Janice Payne
1932-2016
Memorial services for Janice Virginia Payne, 84, of Tyler, were held on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, at Meadow Lakes in Tyler with the Rev. Bob Green officiating, under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home.
Mrs. Payne passed away Sunday, Sept. 11,2016, in Tyler.
She was born Jan. 12, 1932, in Dallas to Clifford and Rena Tull.
She spent her early years in Edgewood then attended Arlington Junior College, Texas State Women’s College and Long Beach City College, majoring in art and merchandising.
After college she started modeling at Neiman-Marcus Department store in Dallas and from there went to New York City, modeling for various dress houses on 7th Avenue which she said “was an experience she will never forget.” She became so valuable that she was sent out to 23 states with one manufactures’ line and only returned to New York four times a year to pick up the new designs.
Her desire for travel increased and she took a job with Braniff Airlines as a hostess. She was with them for two years and after a South American vacation of six weeks she decided to come back to the United States and settle down. She married Jesse “Jess” Payne on Nov. 25, 1959, and they were married for 44 years, until his death.
She and Jess earned their real estate licenses in Nevada where they worked until 1970. They then moved to Fallbrook, Calif., and bought an avocado grove and opened a real estate office. Working in the avocado grove was a family affair for Jess, Jan and Jason and their five dogs and 11 cats. After Jess died, she moved to Tyler to take care of her mother, finding time to do volunteer work and play bridge, making many new “bridge” friends.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Jesse “Jess” Payne.
She is survived by her loving family including her son, Jason Payne of Vista, Calif.,; daughter, Carol Johnson of Fredericksburg; and cousins in Van Zandt County.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to The Hospice of East Texas Foundation 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701.
