Stephen Edward Payton, 73, of Boone passed away peacefully at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames, Iowa, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. He was born on May 2, 1949, in Perry, Iowa, the son of Lois and Kenneth Payton.
Steve graduated from Perry High School in 1967.
About a year after graduation, he enlisted as in the U.S. Marines and served in the Vietnam War.
On Jan. 8, 1972, he was united in marriage with Beth Noland, and they had two girls, Nicole (Nikki) and Amy.
Steve worked for the Chicago North Western Railroad as a conductor for the majority of his working years — 38 years. While working on the railroad, he adopted the name “Hollywood.”
In his younger days, Steve enjoyed many pastimes. He golfed, played some organized slow pitch, played cards and fished.
Steve had fun raising kids and was a proud father and grandfather. He often reminisced about the silly things Nikki and Amy did and said.
He was divorced in 1988 and retired from what was then then Union Pacific Railroad in 2010. Steve made the most of his retirement years. Steve was a member of the VFW, American Legion, Moose and Hunt and Fish Club, where he enjoyed fellowship with friends.
He traveled with family and friends to Canada and northern Minnesota to fish, Arizona in the winter to golf and of course Oregon to see Amy and her family. You could find Steve on the golf course several days of the week during the season, probably betting on a round.
He played computer solitaire while listening to country music and enjoyed reading jokes shared by friends.
He found the most enjoyment from playing cards with his grandkids, watching them grow up, and hearing stories about them.
Steve was lighthearted and always had a smile on his face. He never met a stranger and would give the shirt off his back to help someone. Steve also had an ornery side and liked to joke around.
Steve was preceded in death by parents, Lois and Kenneth Payton; his brother and sister-in-law, Jerry “Buddy” and Deborah Payton; and grandparents, Daniel and Edith Carpenter and Raymond and Mildred Payton.
Survivors include daughters, Nicole (Nic) Arringdale of Boone and Amy (Dennis) O’Brien of Fort Worth, Texas; grandchildren, Ajay, Beau and Taylor Arringdale of Boone and Sean and Rory O’Brien of Texas; sister, Cheryl (Louis) Swanson of Jefferson; nephew, Scott (Jane) Swanson of Omaha; great-niece and great-nephew, Mallory and Cody.
Visitation will be Friday, Sept. 23 from 4-6 p.m., with a Celebration of his life to follow from 6-8 p.m. at the Cedar Pointe Golf Course at 601 S. Cedar St., Boone, IA 50036. Military graveside rites will take place at the Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry on Monday, Sept. 26 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to his family. Online condolences may be left at www.carrisfuneralhome.com.
