John Carl Payne passed away on June 16 at the age of 85. He was born May 29, 1939, to Carl and L. Evangeline (Mingus) Payne in Bath, NY and is survived by his wife Susan and son Luke. He was raised in Norwich and later attended the University of Rochester to become a dentist, but he soon realized that wasn't for him and turned to a completely different path. John was a long-time Sidney resident, working to help people with insurance early on, and then for most of his career, with financial planning. He received his Certified Life Underwriter designation in 1977 through Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania.

John loved the racket sports, playing table tennis and badminton, and he played tennis in high school and college. In addition, he loved golf. He also had a huge interest in health and read extensively on the subject. Enjoying travel, the family had great vacations in Florida, Mexico, and on the QE2.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, June 28, at 11:30 a.m. at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Sidney.