Dean Payne Obituary

Dean Allen Payne Jr went home to be with his Savior on October 11, 2025. Dean was born on October 23,1943 to Dean Allen Sr and Ruby Lee Payne in Pampa, Texas.

Dean was raised in Bowers City, Texas and graduated from Borger High School in 1961. He married the love of his life Carolyn Alice McGee in 1962 and moved to Skellytown, Texas to raise their family.

Dean worked as an automotive mechanic at Culberson Chevrolet in Pampa, Texas and enjoyed drag racing at various racetracks throughout the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma. He was a member of the Lion’s Club, White Deer School Board, and the Skellytown Volunteer Fire Department keeping the fire engines maintained and ready to respond. He honed his welding skills constructing oil rigs for the Cabot Corporation before working at the Phillips 66 Co-Polymer plant in Borger, Texas.

Dean and Carolyn moved to Hobbs, NM in 1982 where he continued to work in the oil and gas industry until retiring from Phillips 66 after 30 years. Dean was a member of the Taylor Memorial Baptist Church, Hobbs Masonic Lodge No. 63, and the Lea County Shriners. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping with family and friends. He took pleasure in both motorcycle camping with Carolyn and tending the yard with his many pecan trees.

Dean is preceded in death by his parents, Dean Allen Sr and Ruby Lee Payne; and his son, Dean Allen Payne III.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Carolyn Payne; brother Jacky (Lori) Payne of Hartland, Minnesota; sister Lee Pelley of Georgetown, Texas; son Ray (Laura) Payne of Lake Oswego, Oregon; daughter in-law Laurie Payne of Lubbock, Texas; grandsons Kris Payne, Ty (Jennifer) Payne, and Reese Payne.

In lieu of flowers, the Payne family respectfully requests contributions in Dean’s memory be made to Gentiva Hospice.