Merle F. "Flap" Payne

Celebration of Life Open House for Merle Payne will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2019 from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the Phelps County Senior Center in Holdrege, Nebraska.  A private inurnment will be held at a later date at the Alma Cemetery, Alma Nebraska.

Merle Francis "Flap" Payne, 92 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, passed away on Sunday, February 10, 2019, at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege.  Flap was born July 26, 1926, the eighth child of Kenneth Thomas and Minnie Ethel (Skiles) Payne, on a farm south of Huntley, Nebraska.  Flap resided on the family farm and graduated in 1944.  He was part of the Huntley High School basketball teams that qualified for State in 1943 and 1944.

Flap enjoyed going to dances and during one of these dances he met the love of his life and married, Patty Andres on January 1, 1949.  To this union seven children were born.

He was preceded in death by: his parents; his wife Patty in 2001; sons:  Merle David Payne, shortly after birth in 1950; and David Gaiel Payne in 2017; siblings:  Gaiel "Red"; Tom; Carl "Skeeter"; LaRose; Gertrude; and Jack.

He is survived by; his children:  Ken Payne and his wife, Ella of Lincoln, Nebraska; Peggy Perry and her husband, Brad of Holdrege; Pamela Payne Laisure of Eagle, Colorado; Patsy Jones and her husband, Tom of McCook, Nebraska; and John Payne and his wife, Lori of Papillion, Nebraska; grandchildren:  Anna Perry Anderson; Alex Perry; Adam Perry; Amy Payne Hajek; Rachel Payne Prelle; John D. Payne; Seth Jones; Sarah Jones Sewell; Aaron Payne; Hannah Laisure; and Caleb Laisure; great-grandchildren:  Jaron; Coby; Braden; Kindrey; Aidan; Addison; Avery; Westyn; Tenley; Oakleigh; Trinity; Everly; Skyler; and Ryker; great-great-grandchild: Rowan; sisters-in-law:  Carolyn Reddish; Karry Smith; and Michelle Andres.

There will be no visitation.  The family has honored Flap's wish for cremation.

A memorial has been established in Merle's honor and kindly suggested to the Phelps County Senior Center in Holdrege; cards and letters can be sent to the family at:  2314 South Gustin Street, Holdrege, NE  68949-3381.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.