Gladys Armildia Payne, nee Smith, passed away Monday, November 3, 2014 at her home in Rolla, Missouri at the age of 93 years. She was born June 21, 1921 in Kansas City, Missouri to Arthur William Smith and Elzira Elizabeth Lanham Smith. On August 29, 1941 in Salem, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Roba L. Payne who preceded her in death in 1981.

Gladys worked for Phelps County Regional Medical Center and Senior Companions and then retiring from the Missouri Veterans home in 1985. She was a member of the Vichy Community Church.

She spent many hours sewing and gardening. She loved her flowers, her many pictures and collecting salt and pepper shakers along with frogs.

She will be lovingly remembered by four sons, Arnold Payne and wife Yuni of Leslie, MO, Jim Payne and wife Carmen and Roger Payne and wife Norma all of St. James, MO, Kenneth Payne of Morrison, MO; seven daughters, Geraldine Littrell and husband Ben, Carol Hyatt, Joyce Stufflebean, and Deloris Jay and companion Thomas Sidwell all of Rolla, MO, Pauline Williams of House Springs, MO, Clara Hoerstkamp and companion Joseph Price of Sullivan, MO and Donna Jarvis of Salem, MO; extended daughter in-law, Lori Terstriep; forty-six grandchildren; eighty-nine great-grandchildren; forty great-great-grandchildren; brother, Harold Smith; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Roba L. Payne; sons in-law, Clarence Williams, Roger Hyatt, Harold Stufflebean, Jr., David Lee Jarvis, Sr. and Gene Jay; one great-granddaughter, Jennifer Counts; two sisters, Marie Lanham and Rozella Justice; four sisters in-law; Naomi Smith, JoAnn Smith, Alpha Bowen and Pearl Minzer; and six brothers in-law, Albert, Alfred, Tiny, Leonard , Frank and Willie Payne and Walt Justice and John Lanham..

The Family received friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2014 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 7, 2014 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home with Rev. Gary Lane officiating and Ben Pursifull reading the obituary. The prelude was played by Carol Payne. Special music of "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Amazing Grace" was sung by Phyllis Pruitt and Lawrence Ridenhour.

Committal prayer and burial were in the Steelville Cemetery.

Honored to be casket bearers were David Littrell, Walter Williams, Jack Halbert, Arnold Payne, Jr., Roger Hyatt III, Robert Payne, David Jarvis, Jr.,  Roger Payne, Jr., Richard Summer and Jeremy Buschmann.

The Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, MO