Gregory Allen Payne's Obituary
Gregory Allen Payne of St. Helens passed away on August 30, 2022, in Portland, Oregon, after a long battle with COPD and heart failure. He was 72 years old.
Greg was born January 10, 1950, in Kendallville, Indiana, to Ruth and Russell Payne. In 1963, he moved to Grants Pass, Oregon, where he graduated in 1968 as a proud Caveman. Over all the years, he would proudly say that he stayed in touch with many people he knew from his school days.
After graduation, his thoughts turned to his future, which ultimately lead him to California where he got a degree in Civil Engineering. He worked for several businesses and cities over the years, and most recently, worked for the City of St. Helens for over 20 years. Even after retiring, he loved to keep up on the engineering projects the City was involved in, as he continued to feel invested in the infrastructure and progress of his town.
Greg loved music and had played bass in a band called Steel Breeze when he lived in California. He also loved to travel, having taken his children across the country to show them the actual places they read about in their history books. He was a collector of fishing rods, and had a collection of antique reels. Retirement gave him time to explore new hobbies like woodworking and he was eager to make some beautiful projects for people. More than anything else, though, Greg loved his family and friends. He will be missed.
By completing the top item on his bucket list, Greg knew where his future lay, as he chose to give his heart to Jesus and be baptized a few weeks before he passed away. He said that brought him so much comfort and took the fear out of the future.
Greg is survived by his wife of 10 years, Melanie Payne; brother Mark (Jolene) Payne of Austin, Texas; sister Sheryl Payne of Vancouver, Washington; son Jeremy (Keilee) Payne of La Pine, Oregon; stepson Chris Brecht of Astoria, Oregon; four grandchildren and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his son, Joshua Payne, his mother, and his father.
A memorial will be planned for a later date.
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