Kenneth Lee Payne

Mesquite, Nevada – Kenneth Lee Payne, 74, passed away on February 7, 2026, at his home in Mesquite, cared by his loving wife and daughter, JoAnn Graham. Ken was born on July 30, 1951, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Luther Lee Payne and Pauline George. He married Celia Ann Ackerman on January 24, 1973, in Elko, Nevada.

Ken was raised in Sperry, Oklahoma, where he graduated from Sperry High School, participating in football and baseball. Following his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the United States Air Force on September 9, 1969. By March 1970, he completed basic training and the Munitions Maintenance Specialist Course. He was stationed with the 649th Munitions Squadron at Hill Air Force Base (AFB), Utah. Ken met his future wife, Ann, shortly after arriving at Hill AFB. Ken deployed to Vietnam, where he served at Phan Rang Air Base in 1971. Following his service in Vietnam, he was in Guam for a short period of time. Upon returning to Hill AFB, Ken and Ann married on the 23rd…no…..the 24th……”do I need to get the marriage certificate? It is the 24th!”

In 1974, Ken deployed again, this time to Thailand. After his deployment, he was stationed at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. During their time in Mountain Home, Ken and Ann became members of a Corvette Club, enjoying driving their powerful blue 1973 Corvette equipped with a 454 engine. Their family grew with the birth of their first child, Jennifer Ann Payne.

Ken transitioned from active duty to the Air Force Reserve, joining the 419th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB. Their family grew with two daughters, JoAnn and Janeen, and finally, Ken got his wish, his son, Travis. Ken deployed multiple times in the Middle East from 1991-2000. In 2001, he was deployed to Kuwait in support of the first F-16 Fighter Jets into Afghanistan following the attacks on September 11th. He deployed a couple of more times, but specifically, he was yet in another combat zone in Iraq. His extensive service spanning over four decades of combat experience and mentoring the young Airmen and contributed significantly to National Security. Ken retired from the Air Force in April 2010 as a highly decorated Non-Commissioned Officer and the local newspaper did an article with him following his career covering four decades of service. Following his retirement, he worked a few more years as a civilian munitions inspector at Hill AFB, where his career began with the 649th Munitions Squadron.

After retiring from military service, Ken and Ann embarked on a new chapter, traveling extensively in their fifth-wheel trailer before settling in Mesquite, Nevada, where they built a new home.

Ken is survived by his wife, Ann, of Mesquite; his children, JoAnn Graham (Stanley) of Roy, Utah; Janeen (Jeremy) Joyce of West Point, Utah; Travis Payne (Rachel) of Las Vegas, Nevada; and grandchildren Hailey, Deron, Kelvin Graham; Jameson Joyce; Karson and Jayde Payne. He was preceded in death by his daughter Jennifer Payne.

A celebration of Ken’s life will be held at a later date in April at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Lodge in Layton, Utah. Family and friends are invited to leave condolences or share memories at www.starmortuary.com.