Name: El Cajon Mortuary & Cremation Service
Address: El Cajon, CA

My deepest condolences to Joe’s family. 
I am fortunate to have met Joe through work, and can say that he was the consummate professional. We worked together for years, and I couldn’t have done it without him. In addition,  I will always remember Joe as being the most unique, kind, thoughtful, sweet, ever youthful, humorous gentleman, as well as a social butterfly. Anywhere  I went with Joe, Joe knew everyone and everyone knew and loved Joe. Joe brought out the best in everyone who knew him. I am forever grateful to have known Joe and will carry so many great memories with me. Thank you Joe! 

The Payson home on Divine Way is perched on a Mount Helix outcropping of hard igneous rock.  The parking at the top is barely "spacious" enough for Joe's Porsche and perhaps one other vehicle. 
 To reach the house by foot, you have to  huff and puff from the little "circle" below, up the 45 degree slope, 50 yard long (and I mean LONG) driveway that leads up to the house. 

This was a huge problem when Joe hosted parties at his house.   He couldn't very well have his guests arrive out of breath and sweating before he poured them drinks, could he?  The solution was obvious, at least to Joe.  "Hire" Richard, Hal and Kurt, to ferry the guests up the driveway in a little car.  Keeps the guests happy, and the young men out of trouble.  Perfect.

I remember one particular clear cool summer evening, we were rendering that service for Joe, and hanging out on the "circle" waiting for guests to arrive.  In the middle or chattering about something, this deep garrulous baritone laugh rang out through the whole neighborhood as Joe pored a drink, or appreciated someone's joke.  It was inescapable, and we stopped our conversation long enough for one of us to say something smartass like "well it sounds like someone is having a good time."

Joe had a laugh that was bigger than life and a heart that was always warm to the touch in his strong handshake.  



The classiest guy I know and one of my dearest and treasured friends. Joe was a superb business man, someone you could always count to do the job to the highest standards. I will miss him dearly.

People who knew Joe would recognize him from his well-dressed appearance which on a daily basis included his golden cartouche which translated to ‘Empowered by the Gods’, two gold rings, ostrich cowboy boots, jeans, gold glasses and his famous long-sleeved pink or purple dress shirt. Most of all he was well recognized by all for his loud joyous greetings and humor, accompanied by undiscriminating hugs and kisses and invitations to meals with his family. He spent his Sundays enjoying his various arts and crafts including caring for orchid flowers and photography. His photos were in several collections in El Cajon, California with his friends Gary Anderson and Uk Kyong Prince. “These photographic images display the inherent exquisiteness of our surroundings and hopefully a consciousness to sustain nature’s heritage.” Joe will be missed by all. All his accomplishments may not be known to all, but were an astonishing testament his talented capabilities and to his lust for life and beauty. Rest in peace. 

From growing up a poor farm boy, Joe transformed himself into a self-made successful man who wished to pursue nothing more in life than showing love, loyalty, good humor and generosity with his many friends and immediate family. He was an accomplished man anything he committed himself to including his businesses, civic engagement, military and law enforcement, and pursuits of exploring arts, culture and world travel. He designed and built his dream home where he happily lived for 50 years. He was a self-taught gourmet chef and fine wine lover. His favorite movies were everything James Bond 007. His favorite books were many but frequently re-read Watership Down by Richard Adams, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and a Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, Dean Koontz, and any cookbook especially Italian. His taste in music before his passing included jazz musicians Eva Cassidy, Chris Botti and Diana Krall. Countries Joe visited were communist China before tourism, Russia, Thailand, Japan, Morocco, many European countries, his favorite being Hungary, camping in Mexico, Canada, Jamaica and Puerto Rico and all over the Unites States. He had dreams of living in New Mexico. 

Joe spent his life well. Along with being a business owner and talented artist of several mediums, he also always had a strong determination to serve and support his community which he did as President of the California United Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Honorary Deputy for the San Diego County Sheriffs, founding board member of the San Diego – Imperial Counties Developmental Disabilities Services Foundation, the San Diego County Law Enforcement Foundation, and chairman of the San Diego State Athletics Board and Regional Center, among other civic responsibilities. He was also a supporter of the arts in his later years including serving on the volunteer board of the Museum of Man and the Olaf Weighorst Western Museum, donor to the Heard Museum and a fond benefactor for several talented Native American artists from the Arizona tribes of Zuni, Navajo and Hopi peoples. 

Joseph Payson passed away in La Mesa, California on Monday June 2022 at the age of 90. He was born February 25, 1932, in Framingham, Massachusetts to Katherine Grace Harris and to Edwin Edward Payson on the Sunshine Dairy Farm. He was the youngest of three children, including his half-brother Hollis Edward Payson and half-sister Eleanor Koster. Joe was originally first name Ernest, but decided at a young age he made a better Joe and was an affectionate and professional name the rest of his life. 
Since 2016, Joe received cancer treatment, but was determined to continue his normal activities enjoying his friends and family with independence at home. After his beloved wife Barbara needed long term board and care, Joe stayed at the home he built continuing his photography business and maintaining his friendships and received help from his family and friends to live with comfort and dignity at home. It was not until Joe suffered from a stroke on March 21st, 2022 he was housed with his wife at her board and care facility. While it was a great joy for he and Barbara to be reunited under one roof again, Joe was always a strong man who made his own decisions and many said he was too intelligent to continue on with limited physical capacity of his hands and body. We can only assume he decided to join his sister Eleanor and many friends with the Lord in heaven. 


In Joe’s own words: “…when I was fourteen years old, my parents moved to Maine leaving me in Massachusetts to complete my high school education. To support myself, I worked as a short-order cook and a variety of other positions. Ignoring my age, one of the opportunities available was serving with the National Guard along with two of my friends. That was, my first personal experience with military service which included the obligation of escorting sealed caskets of our country’s defenders. […] During the Korean conflict which began in June of 1950, a mandatory military enlistment existed. Deep within, I knew if I were to serve it would be as a Marine. […] After graduation from Parris Island boot camp as a private first class; I began my specialty education followed by a transfer to a Marine Corps Radio Intelligence Unit in California. During that assignment I meet my wife to be. […] Standing tall, proud of my service as a United States Marine with my wife Bobbi at my side I have continued as the pledge stipulates; ‘Once a Marine, always a Marine.’’
After the end of his service, Joe married Barbara Cecilia, on July 18, 1954, a native Californian of Los Angeles, California. They would have celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary this year.  He became a father to Richard Harris Payson and Victoria Marie Payson, and later on grandfather to Raine Mariah Hartman and Arianna Raphael Payson. He attended San Diego State University and the University of California for audio pathology, but afterwards decided to become a business owner and became a licensed B1 contractor and a licensed C15 flooring contractor. His business specialized in forensic evaluations and assessing restoration costs for insurance companies regarding construction related law suits. 

Joseph Payson will always be remembered as a truly generous soul, full of fun, good humor and thoughtfulness. He will forever hold a prominent place in our hearts, as a fine father, father-in-law, and grandfather. 
Rest In Peace and thanks for the memories. 


OBITUARY

Joseph Harris Payson

February 25, 1932 – June 20, 2022

El Cajon Mortuary and Cremation Service

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