Ferrell Foster Payne, 82, of Opdyke, Illinois, passed away at 2:18 am October 9, 2022 at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon, Illinois. He was born April 21, 1940 in Jefferson County, Illinois to the late Ferrell Glenn and Nellie Alice (Overby) Payne. Ferrell married Linda (Knox) Piercy on April 13, 2013 in Woodlawn, Illinois.
In addition to his wife, Ferrell is survived by his daughter, Jodie J. Stover of Auburndale, Florida; son, Rob R. Payne (Krista) of Mount Vernon, Illinois; step daughter, Julie Rednour (Mike) of Mount Vernon, Illinois; step son, Jason Piercy (Ashley) of Lakewood Ranch, Florida; grandchildren, Cody Payne (Jamie), Clay Payne (Brooke), Reece Payne (Mackenzie), Emma Stover, Gracie Stover (David),Brittany Herring (Ricky), Jase Piercy, Zyla Jo Piercy; great-grandchildren, Mila, Sage, Nevaeh, Palmer, and Ember Payne, Adalynn and Henley Herring; Sisters, Alice A. Garlington of Odessa, Texas and Nova N. Herin of Corpus Christi, Texas; brother, David D. Payne (Tammy) of Mount Vernon, Illinois; sister-in-law, Karen Payne of Pearland, Texas; six nieces; two nephews; and very special friends, Ann and Everett Bullock.
In addition to his parents, Ferrell was preceded in death by his brother, Nolan N. Payne and brothers-in-law, Terry Garlington and Buddy Herin.
He graduated from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. Ferrell proudly served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam Era and earned the awards of “Airman of the Month”, Airman of the Quarter”, and “Airman of the Year” during his first permanent duty station assignment. He was retired from the Defense Contract Audit Agency with the U.S. Department of Defense.
Ferrell served over forty years as director on the Anderson Smith Cemetery Association Board of Trustees. He was a Christian and held many church positions, including Sunday School teacher and Deacon. He was a member of Central Christian Church in Mount Vernon.
He enjoyed witnessing as a Christian, his family gatherings, reunions and grandkids’ fun times, especially the lake, the fairs, flying kites, and watching each grandchild’s tree grow that was planted on their birth date.
A Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 12, 2022 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A Funeral Service will be held Thursday, October 13, 2022 at 10:00 am with Mr. James McKinzie officiating. Full Military Rites will be held at Smith-Veterans Cemetery in Opdyke, Illinois by American Legion Post #141. Interment will follow. Memorials may be made in Ferrell’s honor to Smith Cemetery Permanent Fund.
Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.