Service today for lifelong Alpine resident

Hazel Payne lived her entire life in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada, and died in the Alpine County home she and her husband built nearly three quarters of a century ago.

A funeral service is 11 a.m. today for Mrs. Payne, who died in her Paynesville home Feb. 25, 2009. She was 91. The service will be at FitzHenry's Carson Valley Funeral Home in Gardnerville with burial at Fredericksburg Cemetery.

Born in Coleville Nov. 10, 1917, to Leida Phillips, she moved to Alpine County, where she attended school and worked for many well-known Markleeville residents.

As a young girl, Mrs. Payne spent the summers with family near Tahoe City, Calif., learning how to make Indian baskets. She also worked in a restaurant kitchen.

Mrs. Payne married Judge Frank Payne in October 1936. They lived along the east fork of the Carson River, later moving to Paynesville to raise six children.

Mrs. Payne enjoyed embroidering, sewing and cooking. She was a devoted member of the Alpine County Mothers' Club, Assembly of God Church, Native Sons, Alpine County seniors' program and Living Word Fellowship Church.

She was preceded in death by her mother, husband and daughter Rose.

Mrs. Payne is survived by her son Raymond Payne Sr. of Markleeville; daughters Mary Klemish of Winnemucca, Betty Machauer of Califon, N.J., Katherine Rakow of Markleeville and Judy Duryee of Homedale, Idaho; 16 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Arrangements were entrusted to FitzHenry's Carson Valley Funeral Home.