LaVerne Payne, 92, passed away peacefully in Citrus County, Florida.
She was born to Hazel & Elver Thompson, Sept. 15, 1920, in Portland, Oregon. LaVerne grew up in Vernonia, married Glenn H. Payne in 1941, and lived many years in Bend, Oregon, where she raised her two daughters.
LaVerne and Glenn spent their winters in Hawaii and Florida after his retirement as a CPA in Bend. In their later years they lived full-time in Dunnellon, Florida, until Glenn's death in 2001, at which point LaVerne moved back to Oregon where she lived for 8 years in Seaside. She returned to Florida in 2008.
LaVerne and Glenn shared a love of the outdoors and sunshine. They were both avid swimmers, played tennis and golf, enjoyed hiking and fishing. LaVerne also loved riding her horse, especially trail rides in the High Cascades, and canoeing. Her daughters were raised swimming in cold Cascade mountain rivers and lakes and traipsing up mountainsides or sledding down snowy slopes. She was an active and respected Camp Fire Girl leader for 16 years.
LaVerne is survived by her brother, Tommy Thompson, Dunnellon, FL; her daughters, Sherri (Payne) Campbell and her husband, Joe Campbell, Portland; Christi Payne and her husband Greg Darms, Astoria; her grandsons, Christopher Campbell, Everett, WA; Rob Campbell, Milwaukie OR; and two great-grandsons.
The family will hold a small service in the spring at Willamette National Cemetery; any donations made in her name could be made to Raphael House in Portland OR.
