James Payne

James Leroy Payne of Lee’s Summit, MO, died December 20, 2014. He was born October 8, 1936 in Carthage, MO to Leonard Wilson Payne and Faye Emma (Brooks) Payne. He is survived by his wife Virginia Marlene (Cowan) Payne; son, Robert James Payne; daughter, Catherine Marlene Stevens; five grandchildren, Michael David Stevens, Melissa Marlene Stevens, Courtney Elizabeth Payne, Ethan Robert Payne, and Colin James Payne.
Jim graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1958 with a BS in accounting. After six months active duty at Ft. Sill, OK, he spent eight years in the active Army Reserves. He was discharged from the reserves with the rank of Captain. In 1959 he worked for Southwestern Bell in St. Louis as a Billing Supervisor. In 1960, he moved to Kansas City, MO and worked as a Senior Accountant for the CPA firm Peat Marwick Mitchell. He passed the CPA exam while at this firm. In 1963, he went to work for the Kansas City Star. At the Star he was Assistant Controller, Data Processing Manager, Controller and finally Vice President- Finance. He retired from the Star in 1995. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Raytown.
A visitation will be held from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Friday, December 26th at Speaks Suburban Chapel. A funeral service will follow at 10:00 a.m. at the chapel. Burial will be at Blue Springs Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel 816-373-3600)