Obituary of Nancy Agnes Payne
Mrs. Nancy Agnes Payne was born near Dumfries, Scotland on September 21, 1920; she was the daughter of the late John James and Margaret (Parker) Cairns.
She had 4 brothers, 3 sisters, 4 step-bothers, 3 step-sisters and 2 half-brothers. In 1929 her family moved to Canada. They spent 2 weeks crossing the Atlantic by ship and landed in Montreal. They took the train to NB and settled on a land grant in Highfield, Queens County.
Nancy met her husband, Gordon Payne in 1943 and they were married just 6 months after they met. They were married for 58 years until Gordon passed away in 2001. They settled near the Four Corners. Their house was expropriated when the 4 lane highway was built so they moved to Roachville to live near their daughter, Shirley and son-in-law, Philip. Gordon and Nancy had 3 children – John was born in 1944 and Betty Ann was born in 1946. In 1952 there was a polio epidemic in this area and both children died within 4 days. Their daughter, Shirley was born 3 years later. Nancy has three grandchildren Matthew, Steven and Jennifer.
Nancy enjoyed lots of activities. She loved to knit, sew and make quilts. Each of Nancy’s nieces and nephews received a homemade quilt when they were married. She was also a talented Mrs. Fix-It. There was very few things that she wouldn’t try. Nancy loved flowers and gardening. She always had lots of house plants and a beautiful garden. Nancy was also active in her church, a member of the UCW and the Women’s Institute.
In 2006 Nancy sold her home and moved to live with Shirley and Philip. She moved to the Kiwanis Nursing Home in January of 2014. She loved the workers there and they were all so good to her.
She will live on in the hearts of her daughter, Shirley Keith and her husband Philip of Roachville and their children: Matthew of Toronto, Steven and his wife Katelyn of Quispamsis and Jennifer (Nick Morrell) of Roachville; her sister-in-law, Jean Bell of Sussex Corner; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Nancy Agnes Payne formerly of Roachville, passed away at the Kiwanis Nursing Home, Sussex on December 22, 2017 at the age of 97.
She is predeceased by her husband, Gordon; her children, Betty Ann and John in 1952; her brothers: Bob, George, Maxwell and Jack Cairns; her half brothers: William Bell and George Bell; her step brothers: Andrew, David, Duncan and Jim Bell; her sisters: Daisy Lockerby, Mary Robbins and Elizabeth Dunnachie and by her step sisters: Jean Bell, Isabel Gordon and Catherine McDermott.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the compassionate care of Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex, (506-433-1176) where visitation will be held on Wednesday from 1-3 and 6-8pm.
A service celebrating Nancy's life will be held from St. Paul's United Church on Thursday, December 28, 2017 at 2:00 pm.
If you are considering making a memorial donation the family has recommended the St. Paul's United Church, Kiwanis Nursing Home or the donor's choice.
