Jimmy Ray Payne, a man of curiosity, creativity, and kindness, passed away on December 9, 2024. He is survived by his brother, John; daughters, Jessica and Leah; son-in-law, Ryan; and his treasured grandchildren, who will always carry his love in their hearts. Jimmy had a lifelong passion for storytelling, whether through the pages of Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein, the adventures of Superman, or the vast universes of Star Wars and Star Trek. He shared that love of story with his family. A tech enthusiast, he built multiple computers over the years, always eager to tinker and learn. He also enjoyed woodworking, especially with the tools/toys that his family would get for him. If it was loud and cut stuff, he loved it. He also had a love for capturing nature through his landscape photography. One of Jimmy’s greatest joys was a simple pleasure—cookies. It fact a favorite family story was about how Linda’s famous chocolate chip cookies caught his attention, sparking a love that lasted a lifetime. Married on April 10, 1976, he and Linda shared 48 wonderful years, always true to their promise of "Forever and Always." Jimmy will be remembered for his generous nature, his creative spirit, and the warmth he shared with everyone around him. To honor his love of reading, donations can be made to Kids Need to Read, ensuring that young readers can discover the same joy and wonder in books that he did.