Our beloved mother, grandmother and friend, Patricia LaVerne “Pat” Payne passed away on February 19, 2025 with family by her side. She is survived by her four sons, Richard (Deanne), David (Cari), Michael (Jennifer), and Steven (Lyric), her brother John, and many wonderful grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was born in Colorado Springs to Karl and Norma Parker July 30, 1943. Patty, as she was called then, had two rambunctious older brothers -John and Karl. She spent most of her school years in Bozeman, Montana. She enjoyed a year with her parents living in Asunción Paraguay, as her dad was a visiting professor at the agricultural college. She often talked of her exotic pets there; a toucan, spider monkey and a mostly wild armadillo. She attended Utah State University and was active in her sorority Delta Delta Delta. She met Dick there and they were married in the Logan Temple on January 10, 1964. Pat and Dick moved to Los Angeles and Dick earned his Ph.D at USC. This is where Richard and David joined the family. After graduation, Dick took a job at Boise State College and the little family moved to Boise where they would live the rest of their lives. Michael was born and then, finally, the family was brought to completion (perfection?) with the arrival of Steven. Pat started a preschool out of her home. She taught many children and youth there and in callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As the kids grew up, she finished her Degree in Elementary Education at BSU and taught kindergarten and first grade for many years in the Meridian school district. Pat enjoyed traveling. She especially loved trips to the Oregon Coast, with family, friends or even just alone. Disneyland was a favorite destination as well. There was also a legendary trip across the USA for two months in a van with relatives. After her retirement, time with her kids and grandkids was a source of great joy. Her “Camp Grandma” weekend sleepovers were the stuff of legend. Her grandchildren always knew Pat’s home as a place of joy, fun and creativity. She loved to frequent Art in the Park every year. Dick passed away in 2015, and shortly after, Pat moved out to Meridian to be nearer to her boys. Every week for over 10 years, Pat looked forward to “Tennis Lunch” with her sons. Treating them to lunch each week (her motto was “you pick, I’ll pay”) they enjoyed laughing and telling jokes, eating together and drinking Diet Coke. So much Diet Coke… In her later years Pat developed a passion for family history… but never wrote her own! Very recently she developed a progressive level of dementia and lived with the kind people in Foxtail Senior Living until her passing. Pat had a quick wit and excellent comedic timing. One of the last things we heard her say was the punchline from her favorite joke. She will be missed by all who knew her. We are forever grateful for her love, guidance and goodness. Her testimony of Jesus Christ and His resurrection is the foundation of our belief, and the reason we know she is at peace with Dick in the next life.
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