Columbus
James S. Payer Sr., 80, of Columbus, died at 4:36 a.m. Saturday, February 20, 2016, at his home.
Mr. Payer was born February 13, 1935, in Tomah, Wisconsin, the son of Stacey and Racquel Jimenez Payer. He married Laura A. Daugherty May 20, 1977, in Hayward, California, and she survives.
Jim worked 30 years for Ford Motor Company in California and from 1984 to 1994 was a pharmacy technician for Children’s Hospital Stanford in Palo Alto, California. He was a member of Memorial Baptist Church in Columbus where he served as a deacon, taught Sunday school and was a member of the Men’s Group. He was a former elder at Bethel Evangelical Church in Ripon, England, where he and his wife formerly lived. He was a member of the board and a volunteer at Love Chapel.
He was a Korean War veteran of the U.S. Army.
Survivors include his wife, Laura A. Payer of Columbus; sons, the Rev. James S. (Lorinda A.) Payer Jr. of Salida, California, and Todd L. Kelso of Columbus, Indiana; a sister, Mary Jane (Don) Adams of San Jose, California; grandchildren, Rebecca DeSilva of Reno, Nevada, and Ishelle M. Payer of Eugene, Oregon; and a great-grandchild, Aniyah Jo DeSilva of Reno, Nevada.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a stepdaughter, Stephanie Jo DeSilva; one sister; three brothers; two half brothers; and one half sister.
Funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Baptist Church, 2320 Seventh Street, Columbus, with Pastor Scott Murphy officiating. Entombment will be at Garland Brook Mausoleum with military rites conducted by Bartholomew County Veterans Honor Guard. Calling will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Myers-Reed Chapel on 25th Street and from 9 a.m. to service time Saturday at the church.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.myers-reed.com.
Memorials may be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana or the American Cancer Society.
