Richard "Rick" E. Payne

Richard “Rick’ E. Payne 65 of Hillsboro passed away July 3, 2021.

He was born Oct. 29, 1955 in Hillsboro IL to William Eustace and Katheryn (Hiller) Payne. Rick was the 6th cousin to President Abraham Lincoln.

He was a 1973 graduate of Hillsboro High School and graduated from Greenville College in 1977. Rick was a lifelong farmer; he worked for the Hillsboro School District as transportation director in the bus garage until 1995 when we went to work in Decatur IL at Caterpillar until his retirement.

He was a member of the Free Methodist church in Hillsboro, Montgomery County Farm Bureau and served on the Hillsboro School Board for 8 years.

He married Cheryl J. Gurley on Aug. 2, 1975 and she survives, also surviving is one daughter Rachael (Ken) Payne-Grinolds of Chatham three sons Ryan (Kelli Jo) Payne of Hillsboro, Christopher (Amanda) Payne of Witt and Caleb (Andrea) Payne of Hillsboro, 21 grandchildren and one great grandchild and two sisters Kathleen Goldsborough of Cowden IL and Marion Crawford of Avon IN.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister Donna Mohr of Dallas City IL.

Memorials can be directed to Hillsboro Free Methodist Church, St. Jude’s Children’s hospital or Samaritan’s purse.

Visitation will be Tuesday July 6, 2021 at Hough& Sons Funeral Home in Hillsboro from 5-7 PM.

Funeral service will be Wednesday July 7, 2021 at the Hillsboro Free Methodist Church with Rev. Randy Sands officiating.

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