Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Sonny Payne
May 17th, 1933 - Mar 26th, 2023Delbert Leonard “Sonny” Payne, age 89, of Sailor Springs, Illinois, passed away Sunday morning, March 26, 2023, at Flora Gardens Care Center.
He was born May 17, 1933, in Pixley Township, Clay County, the son of Pearl and Florence (Anderson) Payne. He was united in marriage to Norma J. Sullens on December 15, 1956, in Clay City and together they have shared 66 wedding anniversaries.
Sonny worked making grain bins before deploying to Germany for a year during his service in the Army. He later worked at the Shoe Factory, in the oil field, and was a longtime mechanic running his own lawnmower shop. He was a member of the Community Southern Baptist Church in Clay City.
He is survived by his wife: Norma Payne of Sailor Springs; 4 children: Dean (Mary) Payne Sr. of Sumner, Linda (Mike) Norris of Sailor Springs, Albert Dale (Kim) Payne of Sailor Springs, and Brenda (Rodney) Lynn of Clay City; 9 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister: Elaine Anderson of Marseilles; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings: Henry Payne, Geneva Frank, Ethel Jennings, Lois Eastin, Matilda Ann “Toots” Payne, and James Payne.
A funeral ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. Interment will follow in Clay City Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial donations are suggested to Clay County Cancer Crusaders and will be accepted through the funeral home. The family wishes to thank the staff at Flora Gardens Care Center for their care and compassion. To share a condolence or memory, visit: www.frankandbright.com