Evelyn Ann Payne

In lieu of flowers, please make a tribute gift in memory of EVELYN PAYNE in support of the Golden West Chapter. Donate at

http://secure.alsagoldenwest.org/goto/EvelynPayne

or call (818) 865-8067 x244. If you prefer to send your donation by mail, please make your gift payable to the Golden West Chapter and send it to The Golden West Chapter, PO Box 7082, Woodland Hills, CA 91365. Please include the name of the individual you are honoring in the note section of the check, EVELYN PAYNE.

Evelyn Ann Payne passed on May 19, 2023, with family by her side at Loma Linda Hospital, Loma Linda, California. She was born on January 28, 1965, with her twin brother Charles Joseph Betancourt to the late Robert Xavier Betancourt Sr. and Charlotte Vivian Betancourt in Warren, Ohio. She was a dedicated wife to the late Robert Joseph Payne, mother to the late Teresa Katherine Payne, grandmother to Jonah David Neate, loving daughter, and cherished caring sister to three siblings. Growing up, she was raised in several States. Born in Warren, Ohio; attended Four-Mile Grade School, Montoursville, Pennsylvania; Sierra Gardens Elementary, Roseville, California, also Bidwell Junior High School, Chico, CA. Evelyn graduated from North Haven High School 1983, in North Haven, Connecticut.

She then attended Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, Connecticut; transitioned to Palm Beach State College, Boca Raton, Florida achieving an associate degree in Business and Accounting.

She lived an active healthy lifestyle, participated in high school track, tennis, alpine skiing, bicycling, swimming; also enjoyed playing the piano and flute. Evelyn, having creative mind, participated in arts and crafts, baking, jewelry design, and was a quick learner. She prided herself on her hands and was able to type over 60 words per minute. She loved and excelled doing a lot of crafts, making Ming trees, macramé, cross stitch, knitting, crocheting, making jewelry, and especially baking. One of her favorite recipes was the “Million Dollar Cheesecake.” All who met Evelyn described her as a positive person who enjoyed life to its fullest and always encouraged people with her gentle, exuberant manner.

Evelyn took great pride in her working career and accomplished many goals. She worked several jobs in her lifetime, starting as a file clerk at a gun factory, then worked for a florist color coding the different plant varieties on blueprints used in landscaping jobs. Her career accomplishments grew transitioning from an accounts payable clerk, married in 1984, Bank Teller, Mortgage Advisor, Accounts Payable Clerk, Receptionist, Administrative Assistant, Event Planner, and Executive Administrative Assistant.

Evelyn’s favorite role was in 1997 Florida working as an Executive Assistant for the Rexall Sundown, Unicity, a Vitamin company in Boca Raton. There she performed various duties from volunteer work for the March of Dimes for the company, also designing and heading a Kudos Program to bolster employee morale. “It was a fun place to work”, organizing the company picnics where once she hired a DJ from a cruise line as entertainment attended by her twin brother and sister-in-law while visiting from California. This was one of many a special time in her life, enjoyed with her daughter, Teresa, and in-laws, Joe, and Lorretta Payne. Her time there was all too short, as the company was bought out, closing the Boca Raton office.

In 2002, at age 37 she was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Evelyn began researching the disease, leading her to meet others who shared the same condition. She soon joined and became a patient advocate in PALS (People with ALS) organization.

After working a few temp jobs, in 2005 she accepted a position with a nonprofit, the Jewish Federation, working as Assistant to the Vice President of the women’s division. It was her first nonprofit company, the staff was very helpful to Evelyn, becoming like family and lifetime friends. Evelyn didn't know that much about Microsoft Access, discussed in the interview, so she got a library book and studied over the weekend. Being a quick learner, that Monday, after attending a training session, she found working with Access very easy. Evelyn helped plan the four large events hosted by the Foundation each year, with over 400 people at each event, plus attending monthly board meetings. “It was a lot of fun, feeling like a girl’s club.” During her time there, Evelyn created a spreadsheet to track donations and award a diamond to large donors with a Lion pin after each event. As her condition progressed, her hands were getting weaker. Her boss was supportive and compensated by having volunteers help with various tasks, including transcribing meeting minutes. She supervised volunteers to send out mailings and preparing swag bags for events. The company provided her with a hands-free phone, her own printer, electric stapler, to work from home, and installed a push button for the lady’s room. She started using a walker in September, by December she required a wheelchair. Slowly working got more difficult. The state of Florida would renovate her house to keep Evelyn working. Offering to install a chair lift, that would take her upstairs to her bedroom, build a handicap computer desk, and get a new computer, but Evelyn chose to move to California to be with family in Hemet, California.

Evelyn was able to live a full life thanks to help from her care team and use of aids for the disabled. Evelyn and family researched for a mobility van with a wheelchair ramp. Her brother Bob found the perfect van. Bob would drive the van, transporting the family to many memorable outings around Southern California. This also made it easier for Evelyn to be an active patient at the ALS Clinic at Loma Linda, California. One memorable outing was a trip to see “Mama Mia” at Grauman’s Chinese theater in Hollywood, through a Make-A-Wish-ALS CARE Grant. The Family stayed in the famous Roosevelt Hotel overlooking Hollywood Blvd. and the “Walk of Fame”. The family toured the area with Evelyn able to share and enjoy all of it. During one outing to Bubba Gump’s, she was serenaded by a Mariachi Band who were returning from a Cruise. Ever outgoing and adventurous, Evelyn, accompanied by her brother Charles and friends took a trip to the Long Beach Aquarium followed by a Harbor Tour (Exciting story to share to those who are curious).

Possibly the most important aid Evelyn found from the PALS was a Tobii Dynavox (Eyemax). This device allowed her to be able to communicate despite becoming immobile except for her eyes. Evelyn could continue to conduct discussions via E-mail, text, or “voice”. She used her Eyemax to write the passages here. She was known to frequently challenge friends and family to cribbage games online, winning frequently. She’d have a joke ready for you when someone came to visit. Her sharp mind was ever present, knowing each of her care team, their family and kept track of their schedules. Evelyn was an active participant in her care, tracking all her history and researched advancements in treatments and would offer her research to her team for review. This device served her well after agreeing to a tacheometry and ventilator in 2011, she moved from parents’ home to Indio Nursing, Indio, CA.

While Evelyn lived in different care facilities, the staff and their friendship brought her through many difficult problems. Doctors did everything they could, never said ‘no’ to anything she requested. The ALS society was Evelyn’s best friend and constant advocate.

Evelyn is survived by her loving mother, Charlotte Vivian Betancourt, two brothers: Robert Xavier Betancourt, Jr., Charles Joseph Betancourt (twin brother); sister, Joyce Elaine Betancourt Crawford, and her grandson, Jonah David Neate, Concord, Ohio. Evelyn is also survived by many aunts, numerous cousins, and many, many of her friends in California, Florida, Connecticut, Georgia, and Rhode Island.

Evelyn’s extended family includes members from the nursing staff from Hilton Manor, Redlands, CA; Indio Nursing Home, Indio, CA; Golden West ALS Chapter Southern California; Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, Redlands, CA; Fr Charles ‘Gino’ Galley; Jewish Federation of Boca Raton, FL; Barbara Dykeman, Boca Raton, FL; Best Buddy Jackie Aimone; and many, many of her friends, e.g., PALS (People With Amyotrophic Lateral Scerlocsis), Loma Linda Hospital staff; Dr. Rosenfeld, Dr. Farmand and many, many more.

Evelyn is the most precious, loving, caring person we have ever known. There is no other with as strong a will to live, enjoy life, and share as you. You will be forever missed. You may now rest in peace!

Donations for Evelyn Payne, ALS Association Golden West Chapter, ALS