Carolyn Marie Payne was born July 24, 1941, in Yuma, Colorado to Emory Eugene Swan and Gladys Murrain of Yuma, Colorado. She passed away on July 9, 2025, at the Wray Community District Hospital at the age of 83.
Carolyn grew up on the family farm south of Yuma and attended Yuma schools graduating high school in 1959. Later she attended Northeastern Junior College studying accounting and graduated in 1963. Upon college graduation, she moved back to Yuma and started Carol’s Tax and Bookkeeping Services.
In August 1963, Carolyn met her future husband Larry Payne at the Yuma County Fair midway, and they married on March 1, 1964. After moving to the family farm in Cope with Larry, they were blessed with 4 children Randy, Lanny, Kim, and Terry. They lived on the farm raising their children while building their dairy and farm together for 59 years.
Carolyn loved the ranching and farming life, and it showed in everything she did. In the early 1970s, she was a founding member of Women Involved in Farming Economics (WIFE) and worked with her husband in helping form the National Farmers Organization (NFO) whose mission was to help keep crop and cattle sales pricing high and fair for local farmers.
She clerked for Michal Auction from 1988-2000 and worked for the Akron NRCS office from 2000-2016. She served as the Office Manager for the Cope Conservation District from 1996 until she passed. Carolyn loved to stay busy and was also involved in bowling, 4H with her kids, reading, sewing, and quilting.
Survived by her children Randy (Shannon) of Craig, CO; Lanny (Connie) of Cope, CO; Kim of Colorado Springs, CO; and Terry (Candace) of Flagler, CO; 10 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, sister-in-law Sharon Waknin of Highlands Ranch, CO; and many nieces and nephews. Her love of her family was evident in everything she did.
She is proceeded in death by her husband Larry, her parents Emory and Gladys Swan, In-laws Alvin and Zella Payne, Uncle Frances and Aunt Lila Wrape, brother-in-law Donald Waknin, sister and brother-in-law Janice and Dennis Degering, and numerous family members.
On July 28, 2025, at 11:00 AM a Celebration of Life service at The Cope Cemetery will be held followed by lunch at the Cope Recreation Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cope Community Church, Box 38, Cope, CO 80812.