Shirley Mae (Neely) Payne

Services for Shirley Payne will be 2:00p.m., Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at First United Methodist Church, Claremore; pastor Steve Posey will officiate. Burial will follow at Ward's Grove Cemetery under the direction of MMS-Payne Funeral Home. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Tuesday, September 29 from 1pm--8pm, with family receiving visitors from 6pm--8pm. Shirley passed away on Sunday, September 27, 2015 at the age of 75.
Shirley Mae (Neely) Payne was born in Glencoe, Oklahoma on Christmas Day, in 1939 to Ross and Rachel Neely. She received her education in Ponca City, graduating with the class of 1957. During high school, Shirley worked for a dress shop and later a bakery. Following her schooling she married Russell Dowty and the couple was blessed with 2 children, Chris and Steve. In 1965 Shirley moved to Tulsa and began working for Safeway, later she moved to Claremore and transferred to Safeway here. Shirley began working for Centrilift in 1984 and retired from there in 1998.
On December 2, 1983, Shirley married Gerry Payne and the couple made Claremore their home. She and Gerry enjoyed traveling and saw much of the east and west coasts, they spent the last winter in Florida. Shirley was a meticulous house keeper, her home was always inviting and you never went away hungry. She loved her family, especially her grandkids, and took every opportunity to spend time with them. Shirley's church was very important to her and she volunteered there often. She also loved to find a bargain at a garage sale.
A beautiful woman inside and out, Shirley will be missed by all that knew her. Those family members that survive include her husband Gerry of their home in Claremore; her children Chris Baldridge and husband Clark, Steven Dowty and wife Sara all of Claremore, Shannon Payne of Halfway, Missouri and Shawn Payne of Sallisaw; her grandchildren Liberty Shere and husband Lonnie, Robin Dotson and husband Ross, Melissa York and husband James, Joshua Baldridge and wife Andrea, Steven Dowty and wife Daisy, Jake Dowty and wife Amber, Kayla Dowty, Jessica Dowty, Tanner Payne, Haley Payne and Kaleb Farmer; 18 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild and one on the way; her siblings Ross Neely and wife Nancy of Ponca City, Charlie Neely and wife Sondra of Perkins, Vicky Kelly also of Ponca City and Carol Freeman and husband Alan of Stillwater and many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members and friends. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Susie McBee
Those who wish to honor Shirley's memory with a memorial contribution may do so by contributing to her church, Foyil United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 172, Foyil, Oklahoma 74031.
View and sign Shirley's online tribute at www.mmsfuneralhomes.com