Scott Eugene Payne unexpectedly passed away due to a heart attack on June 29, 2020. He was born on September 11, 1974 to his loving parents, Noble “Gene” Payne and Donna McElroy Payne. He was born and raised in Gadsden, Alabama, where he graduated from Gadsden High School, Class of 1992.
After high school, he became a Volvo Certified Master Heavy Equipment Mechanic. This training served him well in his future endeavors, including the Anniston Army Depot and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Gadsden. While Scott loved mechanics, he found his true joy working outdoors alongside his chosen brothers at ProScape of Alabama. With his love for the outdoors, Scott truly enjoyed his workday where he indubitably used his seemingly endless knowledge and passion for problem-solving to excel at anything he was charged with.
During his free time, Scott was an active volunteer at the Humane Society Pet Rescue and Adoption Center. He was always eager to help fix things, show up in the snow for early feedings, man roadblocks, cut grass, or drive transports. He loved animals so and had many of his own; six rescue cats and two rescue dogs, to be exact. In addition, Scott took in countless strays which he built warm enclosures for, fed, and cared for within the neighborhood. These furry friends would without a doubt consider him to be the “Super Fur Dad.”
Outside of caring for his animals, Scott was an avid reader, a lover of all things Sci-Fi, and an adventurous camper, with his favorite spot being Citico Creek in Tennessee. He had a long-standing love for travel, and once spent a summer traveling the world with his cousins, Susan Chaney and Tina Bartlett, and his belated Aunt and Uncle, Brenda and Don Ginder. He also loved being at the beach, especially Mexico Beach and Cape San Blas in Florida. He was fun spirited and delighted in sea shelling and finding all sorts of “treasures” in the ocean. Scott will be fondly remembered as someone who would help anyone he met, whether they needed a shoulder to cry on, a meal, an ear to vent to, or the shirt off of his back. Scott was brilliantly smart, fiercely loyal, and fearlessly courageous. He could make anyone laugh with his witty sense of humor. Scott was truly one of a kind.
More importantly than any of the hobbies he loved, he loved his people. Scott was the best “buddy” to his dad, Noble “Gene” Payne. He was the all-time favored sous-chef to his mom, Donna McElroy Payne. He was always “bitty brother” to his older, but much smaller, sister, Brandi Payne. He was the endeared debater to his equally opinionated, niece, Taylor Payne. He was the perfect other half to his beloved wife, “lightning bolt,” and as he usually called her “his Lu,” Laura Couch Lis. He was, and will always be, so special to all who knew him.
In addition to his parents, sister, niece, and wife, Scott will be missed by: his children, whom he loved deeply, Vivian Phillips, Sydnye Payne, and Isaac Payne; mother-in-law, with whom he had a special bond, Pamela Tidwell; brother-in-law, Jeremy Couch; nephew, Devin Couch; niece, Shawnna Couch; cherished life-long friends, Todd and Christi Brown; and all of his so very loved Annis and Payne family in Tennessee. Scott was preceded in death by his “Papa” and “Nana,” Noble and Thelma Payne; his “Grandaddy” and “Grandmother,” Boyd and Vivian McElory; uncle, Boyd McElroy; uncle, Don Ginder; and aunt, Brenda Ginder.
In keeping with Scott’s loving and generous spirit, his final act was to give through eye and tissue donation. Scott has given the beautiful gift of eyesight to two people.
During this time, Scott’s family is humbled by the enormous outpouring of love and support. Thus, out of love for those who knew Scott, they feel it would be unwise to hold a memorial at this time due to the increasing threat of COVID-19 in our area. According to Scott’s wishes, he was cremated, and his ashes will be scattered among his favorite places where he found peace and joy. In these socially distant times, we invite you all to share stories and photos of Scott with his family in whichever manner you wish.
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