Baker City, Oregon
Phyllis D. Payton, 70, of Baker City, died Aug. 2, 2001, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Her graveside funeral will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery. Gary Laabs of the Baker City Seventh-Day Adventist Church will officiate. Visitation will be from today until 7 p.m. at the Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.
Mrs. Payton was born Aug. 4, 1930, at Inglewood, Calif to Phillip and Hazel Vorce Danner. She was raised in and received her education in California. After graduating from high school she went to work. Her career eventually took her to work as a secretary at Disneyland before the park ever opened.
She met her husband, Wilton G. Payton, who worked there as a security guard. She took one look at him and knew that he was the one for her. They were married June 2, 1956, in Placentia, Calif. After her employment with Disneyland, Mrs. Payton worked at various other jobs. Her last position before retirement was as a senior buyer for an electronics company. Mr. Payton died June 28, 1976, in Yucipa, Calif. In 1996, Mrs. Payton moved to Baker City where she has since lived.
Her interests and hobbies were varied, and she was very artistic. She loved to do ceramics and gardening, but cake decorating, embroidery, crocheting, and needlepoint were also thoroughly enjoyed. When asked what her special family talent was, she replied with a chuckle, “making everyone miserable” but felt that her sense of humor was her best asset.
Mrs. Payton is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Harold Miller of Baker City, and Dorothy and Timothy Joines of Rancho Cucamanga, Calif.; a son and daughter-in-law, Phillip A. and Nicole Blanchard of Tucson, Ariz.; a son, Todd Michael Payton of Baker City; a daughter, Debra Payton of Baker City; and a son, William G. Payton; eight grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Payton was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one brother.
Contributions in Mrs. Payton’s memory may be made to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in care of Coles-Strommer Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, Ore., 97814.
Used with permission from: The Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, August 10, 2001
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
