Tonia Faye Payne

Tonia Faye Payne, age 73, died Wednesday, September 9, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was born February 8, 1936 in Boulder City, Nevada to Howard Leslie and Dora Chadburn Perkins. On July 16, 1954 she married her sweetheart, James Calvin Payne in Overton, Nevada.

Tonia grew up in Torrance, California . She moved to Overton in the 10th grade and graduated from Moapa Valley High School. After their marriage, she and Calvin raised their family in Overton. Throughout her life she made an impact on many young people. Cal built a dance studio behind their home where she taught dance lessons for many years. Later , she became the community librarian where she helped many young people to expand their minds for more than twenty-four years. Her life-long dream was to write a novel. After extensive research about her ancestors from Ireland, and several visits to Ireland, she published "Stairway to the Past" in 2005 and "Return to Dundrum Castle" in 2007. She was active in the LDS church, serving in various callings throughout her life. She will be remembered as a very giving, compassionate and loyal friend, wife and mother.

Survivors include her husband: Calvin of Overton; one son and three daughters: Lyle (BettyLou) of Overton, NV; Sandy (Jon) Robison of Caruthers, CA; Natalie (Robert) Jacobsmeyer of Overton, NV; Tonianne (John) Kekel of Cedar Hills, UT; 16 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; one sister and two brothers: Janice Loveland-Grandi of Las Vegas, NV; Howard (Katherine) Perkins of Pacific Grove, CA; John (Janis) Perkins of Glendale, AZ.

Funeral services will be held Monday, September 14, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the Overton LDS 2nd Ward Chapel. Visitation will be Sunday, September 13, 2009 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Moapa Valley Mortuary and again from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. prior to services at the chapel. Interment will be in the Pioneer Hill Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Moapa Valley Mortuary. Friends and family are invited to sign our online guest book at www.moapavalleymortuary.com