Paula Jean Payne

Paula Jean Payne, 70, of Owensboro, KY, passed away on December 22, 2025. Born in Owensboro on February 1, 1955, to the late James Russell Payne and Mary Ruth Boarman Payne. Paula earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Eastern Kentucky University. She regarded this as one of her greatest accomplishments in her life and was able to complete her degree while being a mother to five children and working full-time. She retired from Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, where she worked as a House Supervisor in her final years. During her nursing career she practiced in many areas including telemetry, women’s health, emergency medicine and several facets of health care management – mostly in Lexington, Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky. Wherever she was practicing, she was the most likely the hardest working person on duty!

She was a tenacious advocate for patients throughout her career, ensuring their needs were met, their values were respected, and they were provided with the individualized care they deserved. When she was not working, she was passionately loving, entertaining, and being near her family. She remained very close and dedicated to her siblings throughout her life and enjoyed her time with them immensely. She loved her children and grandchildren unconditionally, and they fueled her very strong work ethic. She loved the water and the wind in her face – equally enjoying boating on a lake, or the feeling the light breeze off the ocean.

An absolute fighter to the very end, she will be missed dearly. “Life is Good” was her mantra and she lived it.

Along with her parents, she was also preceded in death by her siblings, Patrick Payne, Michael Payne, and David Payne.

Paula is survived by her children, Jackie Thompson (Mike Bell), Aaron (Karla) Wathen, Lindsey (Kyle) Higgins, Mary Vawn Satchwell, and Miles Satchwell; grandchildren, Austin (Rachel) Hacker, Noah Thompson, Kara Higgins, Cole Higgins, Ansley Wathen, Dax Wathen, and Maclaine Wathen; great-grandchildren, RJ Hacker and Bennett Hacker; and her siblings, Bonnie Bivins (Dottie Martin), Shelia (Tom) Moberg, and Ron (Denise) Payne.

The funeral Mass for Paula will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, December 29, 2025, at Saints Joseph and Paul Catholic Church with Father Jean Rene Kalombo officiating. Burial to follow in Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday from 9 a.m. until the time of the Mass at the church.

Care by Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Rock Steady Boxing online at rocksteadyboxing.org or mail in to 6847 Hillsdale Court, Indianapolis, IN 46250 to support the “fighters” living with Parkinson’s.

Memories and condolences for the family of Paula Payne may be left at www.glenncares.com.