Lee Roy "Petey" Payne Jr

View Funeral Webcast  Lee Roy "Petey" Payne, Jr., 78, retired employee of Monsanto and resident of Hiwassee Drive, died Thursday, February 22, 2018 at Maury Regional Medical Center. A memorial service will be conducted Monday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. The family will visit with friends Sunday from 5:00 - 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols. Born December 8, 1939 in Maury County, he was the son of the late Lee Roy "Pete" Payne, Sr. and the late Audrey Margaret Sanders Payne. He was a 1957 graduate of Columbia Military Academy and earned his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. During his extended career with Monsanto, Mr. Payne served in many capacities as Project Manager and held strategic positions at multiple locations, including Missouri, Maryland, Texas, and Louisiana. Always striving to reach his goal to complete projects under budget with successful start-ups, he earned many awards for his ability and skills in project completion. After his retirement, he returned to his hometown of Columbia. He and his wife, Mel, enjoyed many relaxing hours at their camp on Shoal Creek in Alabama. Much of his time was spent reading or listening to books and watching TV. He also enjoyed his beloved Teacup Poodle, Dixie. Mr. Payne was a Christian, a member of the Columbia Elks Lodge, and The Shop. Survivors include his wife of twenty-six years, Mary Eleanor "Mel" Wiley Payne of Columbia; sons, Ben (Barb) Payne of Texas, Lee (Chris) Payne of North Carolina, Matt Payne and Josh (Rhonda) Payne, both of Missouri; daughter, Jan Knight of Tennessee; grandchildren, Megan Payne, Brett (Erin) Payne, Weston Barrett, Luke Barrett, Brandon Payne, Jake Payne, Presley Payne; great granddaughter, Adalyn Barrett; cousin/brother, Sonny (Sharon) Thomas; aunts, Jackie Dale and Joyce Faye Massey; sister-in-law, Lavonne Oakes; several cousins; André Amos; and other numerous lifelong friends, far too many to name.