Thomas James Payne

Thomas James Payne, age 80, a Yucaipa resident for over 30 years, checked out for good on December 18, 2021 in Riverside CA. He was born on Feb. 7, 1941 in Chicago, IL, the 1st of 2 children to Joseph and Louise Payne. Thomas is survived by his sons Daniel (Sandra) Payne of Munster, Indiana; James (Hannah) Payne of Raleigh, North Carolina; and sister Janet (David) Craig of Whittier, California. Thomas was a retired truck driver as well as a U.S. Navy veteran, and lifetime NRA member with a love of the outdoors backed by a fierce sense of independence. Tom was a fighter without any quit in him all the way to the end. We loved him and are going to miss him greatly.

Arrangements are being made by Emmerson Bartlett in Redlands. Memorial service will be on Friday morning, Jan. 7 2022 from 10am to 12pm. He will be laid to rest at Hillside Memorial Park at 1pm. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the following organizations in his memory: National Rifle Association @donate.nra.org; Yucaipa Animal Placement Society @yaps.org; or the Wounded Warrior Project @woundedwarriorproject.org.