Eva Mae Payne, who lived most of her life in Springfield, MO, passed away April 17, 2025, at Centerpoint Hospital, in Independence, MO at the age of 97.  Eve, and her beautiful smile, will be sorely missed by her friends and family.

Eve was born December 30, 1927, in a one-room log cabin on a farm near Linn Creek, MO. She, her 4 siblings and her parents, Carrie and Hugh Hogue, lived in several small Missouri towns before Eve graduated from Waynesville High School in 1944.  She was a serious student who was proud to be the salutatorian of her class. One person she often talked about was her second-grade teacher in a small country schoolhouse. After all those years, Eve still remembered the self-confidence the teacher gave her by leaving Eve in charge of the class many times while the teacher stepped away.

Eve met the love of her life, James (Jim) Payne, while attending a dance at Pythian Hall on December 28, 1946, in Springfield.  They married on March 31, 1947, and were together until his death on January 5, 2013.  She took care of Jim's every need during their entire marriage and was his caregiver for several years before she became ill herself in December 2010.

Eve was a hard worker throughout her life.  She said her first job was as a little girl, delivering a bucket of drinking water each morning to a neighbor whose well had gone dry that hot summer.  During her final year and a half of high school, she rode a Greyhound bus from her family's farm most evenings, to work as an operator for a small telephone company that was inside a home in Waynesville.  She returned home on the bus after midnight most weeknights.  After her high school graduation at age 17, Eve spent a year in California working for Civil Service and living with her sister and brother-in-law.  She then moved to Springfield, MO, enrolled in a business school, and worked part time in the business office at Netter's - a fashion store. She was working in the office at the Springfield Flour Mill when she married.  Eve was immediately let go, because they did not employ married women.  She next worked at Lawson Gibbs Abstract Company and then on to Willy's Overland Jeep Agency, until a troubled pregnancy forced her to quit and stay home on bed rest.  She was a stay-at-home mom for her two children, Scott and Judy, and was involved in their school lives.  Eve was a home room mother, a president of the PTA, and a helper in Boy Scouts and Camp Fire Girls.  She loved both children very much and was proud of their many accomplishments.  She was a great cook who kept a spotless home and enjoyed entertaining and making special occasions perfect for her family.  She hosted a New Year's Day Open House for many years that included as many as 100 friends who looked forward to the laughter and the food she prepared.

At the age of 41, Eve obtained her real estate sales license and found her niche in the working world.  She joined her husband in the company he founded - Jim Payne Real Estate. Eve loved working with people and was a well-respected realtor with many repeat customers during her career that lasted 32 years. She always went above and beyond and many of her customers became her good friends.  Eve was active in local and state real estate organizations.  She served two terms as president of Women's Council and as treasurer on the Missouri State Board of Realtors.  Eve was proud to be named Realtor Associate of the Year by the Greater Springfield Board of Realtors in 1974.

Eve was honored to serve as Springfield's "First Lady" from 1972 to 1978 when her husband Jim served as Springfield's mayor.  Jim was very involved in city and county government and often said he could not have done it without her help and support.

Eve loved and cared for her family and extended family.  She took excellent care of her children and always made sure they had what they needed, even when money was tight.  She was involved in the lives of her nieces and nephews, and most of them thought of her as a second mother. She cared for her own mother and her mother-in-law for many years, while continuing to work as a realtor and manage the company. When her granddaughters Emily and Sarah came along, she became "Mimi," and couldn't have been more excited or proud. Each time she and Jim made the 3-hour drive to visit them, she shopped for special gifts and wrapped them beautifully.  The girls watched for them at the "wishing window" and when the door opened and they were handed the special packages, they always screamed, "Look what Papa brought us!"  She laughed and let him take the credit for her hard work.  Eve was proud of both girls and amazed at their accomplishments.  Their weddings were 16 years apart, and as she was nearing age 91, she was thrilled to be able to attend and dance at Sarah's wedding in California. Eve loved both grandsons-in-law (Brad and Yari) and her three amazing great-grandchildren, Max, Izzie, and Eleanor.

Jim was an outstanding golfer, so Eve decided she needed to learn the game.  She enjoyed playing in the ladies' golf league at Grandview Golf Course for several years and was chairperson for the 18-hole league.  She also served as chairperson of the Springfield Women's Golf Association and played at various courses in the area.  She and Jim later joined Twin Oaks Country Club, where she was also a leader.  Eve had some wonderful golfing friends, including Betty Prouty and Glenda McLauchlin, and played until she was 83.

After her retirement from real estate, Eve was active in her neighborhood as a member of the Ravenwood Homeowner Association Board of Directors and was the leader of 25 block representatives who welcomed new members to the neighborhood.  For many years, Jim and Eve were involved at First and Calvary Presbyterian Church and were members for more than 50 years.

Due to health issues, Jim and Eve moved to Blue Springs in early 2011 to live with their daughter and son-in-law.  Over the next few years while caring for Jim and Eve and later just Eve, two very special in-home caregivers became a part of the family.  We would like to thank Cindy Webb and William Moore for their loving care.  Both have beautiful smiles and big hearts.  Cindy, a.k.a. "Wonder Woman," brought much laughter and fun to Eve's life.  Cindy shared a memory of taking Eve shopping and wrote, "Prim and proper with the biggest grin on her face, Eva Mae Payne danced with me in the middle of Macy's to the tune of "Mustang Sally." It was a joy to see this beautiful lady "cuttin' a rug" in Macy's." Both William and Cindy spent many hours massaging Eve's very painful hands and arms and caring for her, ever so gently.

In March 2022, Eve had a bad fall and broke her pelvis and shoulder.  Soon after the fall, Eve moved to Benton House of Blue Springs Assisted Living (near her daughter's home), where she lived for the last three years of her life and was a proud member of the Walking Club.  Eve was thankful for the help she received from many caregivers who were kind and loving during her time at Benton House, and who worked hard to make each day brighter for her.  Eve's daughter Judy, son-in-law Ted, and son Scott were very involved in her care over her last 14 years and were appreciated and loved by Eve.

Eve was preceded in death by her husband Jim (2013) and four siblings.  She is survived by her son Scott Payne of Springfield; daughter Judy (Ted) Linke of Blue Springs; granddaughter Emily (Brad) Klapmeyer of Lee's Summit; granddaughter Dr. Sarah Linke (Dr. Yari Fontebosso) of Cardiff, CA; great-grandchildren Max, Izzie and Eleanor Klapmeyer; and many adored nieces and nephews.

Eve will be buried with her husband at Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Springfield after a private family service.  In lieu of flowers, Eve asked that friends please contribute to a charity of their choice.