ANNA MAUDE PAYTON

Penn Valley resident Anna Maude Payton passed away on May 17, 2016, in the care of family, Hospice of the Foothills, and the marvelous staff at Cascades of Grass Valley, where she lived since early 2014. She was 98. Anna was born on April 12, 1918, in Hammond, IN, daughter of Don and Louisa Waite. At a young age she was placed in the care of the Illinois Masonic Children’s Home in LaGrange, IL, along with her two sisters, Dolly and Betty; her older brothers Raymond and Duke stayed with their father and worked. While in the Home Anna attended public schools, graduating with the Class of 1936. She moved to Owensboro, KY, took a job as a waitress, and met Alfred Payton, who frequented the restaurant. They were married June 3, 1939. Anna and Al had three boys: Alan (1940), Robert (1945) and Scott (1953). They lived in Chicago until 1955 when they undertook a courageous move to California: they put their belongs into storage, sold their home, and headed west in a 1952 Packard and tent trailer. In October of that year the family arrived and settled in Whittier, CA. Anna worked for ten years in the Registrar’s office at USC; she loved her Trojan football team! They loved to tow their trailer all over the country, and at the time of Al’s death in 1998 had visited 49 states together. They loved Polynesia, traveled the South Seas, and had multiple trips to the Hawaiian Islands. In 1994 Al and Anne sold the Whittier home and moved into their new “Granny house” on son Scott’s property in Penn Valley, where they enjoyed helping care for two young grandchildren. They were welcomed by the congregation at the Penn Valley Community Church. After Al passed away, Anna continued her work in the church, assisting with hospitality and Vacation Bible School. She also relished activities and outings with the Road Runners Travel Club. Anna is survived by sons, Rob (Marilyn) and Scott (Wendy); daughter-in-law Marilyn; grandchildren, Gary (Cassie), Dan (Carolyn), Nicholas, Annie, Andrew, and Debbie; and great-grandchildren, Adam, Travis, Trevor and Aubrie. She was always the loving core of the family, embraced by everyone who knew her; she will be greatly missed. The family wishes to acknowledge the tremendous help provided by Masonic Outreach Services of Northern California in providing Mom with the resources to live out her final years being cared for by the wonderful people at Cascades of Grass Valley. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., June 4, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Penn Valley, led by Pastor Dave of the Penn Valley Community Church. Memorial gifts can be made to Hospice of the Foothills, 11270 Rough and Ready Hwy Grass Valley 95945, or to Masonic Outreach Services, 34400 Mission Boulevard Union City 94587.

ANNA MAUDE PAYTON

April 12, 1918 - May 17, 2016