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Steven Lee Payton

About

University of Utah

FUNERAL HOME

City View Mortuary - Salt Lake City

1001 E 11th Avenue

Salt Lake City, Utah

Steven Payton Obituary

11/3/1947 ~ 11/18/2011
Steven came to Utah from Washington D.C. on a football scholarship to the College of Eastern Utah. He graduated from CEU, University of Utah, and University of Utah School of Law. Practiced law in Utah for over 35 years. His kindness and generosity was gratefully received by many.
Stephen is survived by his mother, Rosemarie Payton,; his sisters, Vanda and Mavis, of the Washington D.C. area,; and countless friends.
A viewing will be held Tuesday, November 29 at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, from 6-8 pm . Viewing will also be held at noon on Wednesday, November 30 at Calvary Baptist Church, 1090 S. State Street, Salt Lake City, followed by a funeral service at 1 pm. Interment at Garner Funeral Home, 1001 E 11th Ave. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.starksfuneral.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Deseret News from Nov. 27 to Nov. 29, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Steven Payton

26 Entries

Sheila M. Wolf

July 23, 2024

Steven Payton - I am saddened that you passed way too young. I knew you when you roomed across the street in 1968-69 from Carlson Hall at the University of Utah. You read me some of your poetry. We shared meals at the dormitory. When you became an attorney years later we met again on opposite sides of a child support case. You are a smart and sensitive man. May you rest in peace.

February 15, 2015

Steve was a very special person. I loved his sense of humor. He helped me out in so many ways. What a great loss to all lawyers and those who knew him.
jan

Stephanie Woody

December 25, 2013

Still missing your great wisdom and friendship. Our mutual friend, Robert Archuleta died last year. He was the one that renewed my friendship with you. How I miss the both of you.

Teressa Howell

December 27, 2012

My Dearest Friend,
The Lord indeed has taught us many precious things together. I trust it is not just for one short life alone. May God keep us both until we meet again.

Virginia Strand

December 6, 2012

We first met in 1967 in Washington, D.C. working at the Dept. of Ag. We met again in Salt Lake in 1997. You were the kind, generous, loving, funny young man I knew still. You left a footprint on my life.

PS Onstott

December 23, 2011

Steve,
Thinking of you, especially during this most holy of seasons. You have and will forever occupy a precious space in my heart and soul. Rest in peace and love.

Dustin Hofeling

December 8, 2011

Steve was a good family friend. I was on a trip with him once in the UK, with several other friends and family. I remember walking down a street one morning and inaudibly mentioning a glass of orange juice would be nice. Out of nowhere he materialized with a large glass of orange juice. He was a good man, and will be missed.

December 7, 2011

Blaine, I'm sorry for your loss.

AQB

Tim Rice

December 6, 2011

I wasn't shocked at Steve's death; I was pissed. We first met as five-unit apartment neighbors on University Street across from the U of U Law school. One could not ignore Steve--wasn't in his nature. He was MY first rapper even before Run DMC. And I loved his stories of cooking for large groups in DC (he didn't know how to scale down recipes, so I benefited). His street smarts intrigued us all. His exploits of a randy, rough-edged transplant to Utah, of all places, entertained the hell out of all of us. His mind, and the passion it directed, inspired me. I would run into him quite often.

Steve, you fed me, you led me, you made me use big words. I will miss you.

Blaine Hofeling

December 6, 2011

Goodbye my dear friend. You always looked after me. I miss you so much.

Karen Atwood

December 4, 2011

Steve had such a generous soul. We worked in the same building and he helped me out on several occasions. He was wise, witty and a force to be dealt with. RIP Steve.

Dotty Riley

November 30, 2011

RIP Steve.... You were a good man and I'm glad I got to know you !! We worked in the same office building years ago !! One winter I was out on a delivery and came back frozen and my feet were wet and cold, Steve took me and bought me new winter boots !! What a nice man ....

duaine rasmussen

November 29, 2011

Stephen left a lasting impression with me a young man attending the College of Eastern Utah, in Price, Utah. His ability to speak eloquently and forcefully to advocate his position will forever be with me. He would never remember me but I will never forget his passion, his drive and his determination. I admired this senior classman and strived to speak as he spoke.

Kirk Walton

November 29, 2011

I worked with Steve in the same building for a few years. He always had a smile on his face and we were his 'audience' for some new stand up comic material. He brought a lot of joy and happiness to us that were fortunate enough to know him. He will be missed.

Bettie Cisco

November 29, 2011

To The Family,
Thank you for allowing us to have Steven in our lives, although I met Steven during his sickness, what a blessing and strength he was to my family. To see him in church each tuesday and sunday was encourging for us all to keep on keeping on. May you rest now.

Susan Lenhardt Smith

November 29, 2011

Steven was funny, tough, determined, smart and compassionate. He influenced me greatly after I met him in college. He showed me what independence meant and looked like. Later he helped me through a very difficult time in my life with his wise advice and his broad shoulder to cry on. He gave me hope that I could survive and even get to contentment in my future. Even though we were separated by many miles, I felt his presence in my life over all these years. Knowing that he was there, like a safe harbor that offered shelter, was a great comfort to me many times. Now that he has gone on, I still feel him there, maybe now as my guardian angel. Even now he is teaching me how to be strong during adversity and loss. My dear Pay, I will always love you. My sincere and heartfelt sympathy for his family, for Teressa, and his many friends. Thank you to all the medical people who helped him recover to the extent that he was able.

Bill Riley

November 29, 2011

Steven was a kind man with a good heart. He had a great sense of humor along with his wonderful gift of gab. He could talk with anyone on any subject. I think he and I touched on most of them during our chats in various coffee shops. Rest in peace Steven.

Becky Griffin

November 29, 2011

Dear Steven Lee - We will miss you.
Rosemarie, Vanda, and Mavis - Sorry for your loss. It is a great loss to everyone. Steven Lee was a wonderful man, a great mentor, family and friend. Steven Lee took me under his wing when I was young and fresh off the farm from Oklahoma and taught me the value of hard work. We enjoyed many years of working together and maintained a friendship for 30 years. He was a great friend to my family, never judgmental and always willing to help. Tyler and Todd have great memories of their days as terrors running around his office, crawling through his end tables and being fascinated by his books and going to work with mom. Karalee and Trenton's memories are of a great friend who showed up for birthday parties and someone who always had the time to talk to them like adults. It was always a joy to "pick his brain." Steven could pull case law out of his memory at the drop of a dime. He had a magnificent mind. His greatest attributes were his ability to be compassionate, generous, loving, kind, and most of all anything you said to him was held in the strictest of confidences. He was a champion for the underdog. Our family will miss him. Thank you Steven Lee for being the kind of person we all strive to be.

Love The Griffins

Lenna Thomas

November 29, 2011

To The Family of Steven Lee Payton:
I worked closely with Steve for several years. I love him very much. He was very thoughtful of me and attended all the significant events in my life. He was an honorable, loving, generous, kind and wonderful person. Words cannot express the feelings I have for him and the great deal of respect I have for him. He was a pleasure to be around and very funny. He taught me a lot, and I will never forget him. He will be dearly missed and remembered often.

Annette Fierro

November 29, 2011

Steve was so gracious in helping us.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.

November 28, 2011

To the family of Steve Payton: My condolences go out to you all through these trying time. Lean on the Lord. He will see you through. Carol Shifflett

November 28, 2011

Dear Steve's loved ones-
I only knew Steve recently, but oh what a study in true courage. He will be dearly missed by his church family and friends.

Jim Hofeling

November 27, 2011

Thanks Steve for being so kind to me.

Chris Mackay

November 27, 2011

Our association goes back nearly 35 years. Steven will be remembered as a fine man with a great sense of humor. Steven will be missed.

Stephanie Woody

November 27, 2011

Dearest Steve, family and friends, a brilliant mind gone too soon. Steve was such a mind. He became by friend through a mutual acquaintance years ago. Steve was a great orator, develish skier and great gastronome. Steve introduced me and countless others to foods I never would have tried without his "going first." A group of us went to Disneyland as our first time as adults or ever and again he obviously enjoyed entertaining his company. Steve was spontanious, inquisitive, generous and at times misunderstood. I will always have this fond memory of this giant man sitting in his office working away while his office manager's newborn son sat in a swing rocking away in slumber safely in front of Steve's monstrous desk. I thought it lovely he was able to accommodate this working mom. Speaking of mom's, Steve had a great respect and love for his mother and spoke often of her as we rode the ski lift together. My father, the wonderful Robert Woody, was a fan of Steve. They had mutual admiration for one another and had productive thought provocing conversations. Because of illness of my father, myself and Steve, we did not see each other for some years. It was a shock to see Steve post stroke. I made an observation that one of Steve contemporaries, Victor Gordon died on Steve's birthday. The last time I saw Steve, was at Victor's funeral. When the church began to empty to the foyer for visiting and reflecting, Steve had already left and I missed a last opportunity to speak to him. He was so determined to practice law again and ski once more; I so wish he could have. Steve was a good man. Hit the slopes with my dad Steve when you meet up with him.

meg averett

November 27, 2011

What will Salt Lake be with out Steve Payton? I met Steve in College and our paths crossed over and over again. We spent countless hours talking politics and poverty law. He was always doing something for someone that could not afford to pay. My life was enriched by knowing him.

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