Loretta A. Payne, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away on Friday, September 11, 2015 at the age of 79. She had lived her entire life within the state of Oklahoma…being born at home in Tulsa on January 9, 1936. She moved through the years to Sapulpa, Oklahoma City and Haskell, but finally returned back to her hometown of Tulsa. Her given name was Alta, after an Aunt, but she was Loretta to all her knew and loved her. On the day of her birth, it was unusually warm for a winter day…58 degrees! So warm that her Dad, Irvin and her Aunt Opal were able to wash the bed sheets and they were hung on the clothesline to dry. The warmth from that day seemed to be inherent in her disposition as she was always a warm and kindhearted soul.

Loretta was a Daddy's girl at heart! She preferred to tag along behind her Dad and be outside than to do housework inside with her Mother. When her Dad was building their home on North Utica, he would often start nails in a board and tell 6-year-old Loretta "to drive them all in, but don't hit your fingers!" Hence this is where she developed her love of the great outdoors and projects that had anything to do with her house or her patio!

Loretta attended Tulsa Central High School and graduated in 1955. While going to school during the day, she spent her evenings working for her Uncle Melvin and Aunt Opal at Bingham's Shoe Store in Whittier Square. No doubt that this is where she learned her love of good shoes! It was at Bingham's that her future husband, Don Payne, asked her out on just one date…and the rest as they say is history!

Loretta was a nurturer, so it wasn't by mistake that she was drawn to the healthcare profession. She started with a group of Orthodontists at Utica Square. She worked there for several years, leaving only because of moving to Haskell when her husband accepted the position as minister to the Free Will Baptist Church. Years later, upon returning to Tulsa, Dr. Bill and Dr. Hugh went on to be Michelle's orthodontists. Both Doctors tried to sway Loretta to return to their office, as they had greatly missed her and her organizational skills!

Loretta instead pursued a career in healthcare at Hillcrest Hospital. She started in the Outpatient Lab, and when it closed she moved to the main lab and remained there as the Secretary of the Laboratory until her retirement. It was stated in the Hillcrest Service Awards Salute for her 30th year that 'Loretta has been a very valuable and productive member of the Hillcrest family. She is a kind and caring person and a friend to all. She truly practices the Spirit values in her daily life. We appreciate so much her contributions to our family and to our community.' And in the Hillcrest Service Awards Salute for her 35th year, she stated 'During my career as the Secretary of the Laboratory, I have had many different duties. Of those duties, the ones I have always found most rewarding are the ones where I knew I was helping others. Whether it was performing tasks for lab administrators or assisting individual employees, I knew I was making a difference in their day. The fact that I hand out the paychecks also made me feel like the most loved person of the day!' Yes, she had her wits about her, too!

Loretta gave 37 years of service to Hillcrest before she retired at the age of 72. After retirement she spent her time with her family and friends. She traveled to see her grandkids do their activities and sports. She would work on 'projects'…she loved to scrapbook, shop for antiques, collect buttons, crystal pieces, miniature shoes and tea cups. She loved to just be outdoors enjoying time on her little patio…patiently watching for her beloved hummingbirds to buzz around the feeders or for the birds to swoop down and perch on one of her many birdhouses. She also loved to be with her sister, Oveta or 'Wede' as she is affectionately called! They loved to project together at each other's house, go to church, shop at their favorite Wal Mart or go grab a bite to eat at one of their favorite fast food restaurants! And of course, this doesn't include all the time they spent talking on the phone throughout the day and night…checking on each other and their health as they had gotten older. The two never lacked for something to do or talk about!

Loretta is survived by her 3 children and 6 grandchildren:
Mike and Christine Payne, and children, Jessica and MaKayla Payne
Michelle and John Blair, and children, Mary Katherine and Payne Blair
Mitch and Melanie Payne, and children, McKinlee and McKazlyn Payne

Loretta is survived by her sister, Oveta McCorkle

Loretta is predeceased by her ex-husband, Don W. Payne
Loretta is predeceased by her parents, Irvin E. and Myrtle E. Bingham
Loretta is predeceased by her brothers, Bing Bingham and Roy Bingham

As I have spoken to people in the past few days, the same sentiments have been repeatedly shared with me: your Mom was so loving and kind, your Mom was a treasure. When I have asked people to help me to fulfill her wishes for her funeral, I have heard: I would be honored to do that for your Mom, it would be my pleasure to make her final wish come true, your Mom was such a sweet lady, I'd be more than happy to do that for her and your family. My brother Mitch and I were discussing the fact that we hadn't talked to anyone who didn't like or love our Mom! To live your life and in the end to have family, friends and former co-workers speak so highly of one's self: we should all strive for that!

And so ends our Mom's story… but her love lives on in each of her children and grandchildren. And we will carry her legacy forward and honor her by doing what she reared us to do…believe in God, work hard and family comes first.

Our family would like to thank the following people for helping us to fulfill our Mom's final wishes: Pastor: Leonard Pirtle, Music: Linda Paul (Harp), Hairstylist: Katisha Beaman

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, September 18, 2015 at Moore's Southlawn Chapel, 9350 E. 51st Street, Tulsa, OK 74145.

Viewing will be held from 2:00 P.M. till 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, September 17, 2015 at Moore's Southlawn Chapel with family receiving friends from 6:00 P.M. till 8:00 P.M.

Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233