Steven F. (Steve) Payne, 67

Steve slipped into the Lord’s arms on Jan. 3, 2020, at his home in Coeur d’Alene after a sudden diagnosis and shockingly short illness. He was born in Kellogg, Idaho, on June 22, 1952, to Norman Dean Payne and Imogene White Payne Sverdsten.

He is survived by his wife, Dana Snow (Fowler) Payne, mother Imogene Sverdsten, three girls and four grandsons: Melissa McKenna and Jaxon, Amy Maurer and Michael and Matthew, and Tara Rutherford and Jacob; sisters Cheryl (Tim) Snyder and Debbie McPeak; and three stepchildren: Travis Shofner, Dustin Fowler-Barber and Megan Gomez. He was preceded in death by his father, Norman Payne; his wife, Dorothy (Dee) Payne; brother and sister-in-law Jim and Laura Payne; brother-in-law Duane McPeak; grandparents Floyd and Bernadine Payne and Mae and Ed Healey.

Steve was raised in Coeur d’Alene, where he lived a charmed life of roaming the Fort Ground area with the neighborhood gang of kids, spending lazy summer days with his mom and siblings on the beach, eating a picnic lunch and always playing baseball. As he grew older, he roamed a wider path, cruising Sherman Avenue, chasing girls, sneaking beers and getting in fights — and playing baseball.

Steve joined the Army in 1972, training at Ft. Lewis. After leaving the Army, he lived in Fort Meyer, Fla., until he returned to Coeur d’Alene in 1978. Having become an electrician, he eventually “wired” a good portion of the Coeur d’Alene area. He was a hardworking man, always giving 110 percent, training many younger electricians, which he took great pride in, and them as well. He spent many years working at United Electrical Contractors in Post Falls and had a great fondness for all the Bakers and Pat.

Many people knew Steve through work or he helped them out with a project, but he was also known for baseball. He spent the majority of his life with a glove on; starting as a kid playing for Payne Painting to championship games on Memorial Field and national championships with his brother and a multitude of good friends on teams for Chelsea’s and Beta’s.

Steve loved baseball: playing it, watching it, watching his girls play, or throwing a ball with the boys. He also loved golf. For many years, he had a standing early Saturday tee time with his favorite golf buddies, rain or shine.

He loved his family, camping, sitting around the fire and playing horseshoes with his cousins. He loved his yard and gardening, especially tomatoes and roses. And if Dana wanted another raised bed or rose trellis, he got it done. He loved just mowing the lawn and meticulously trimming the edges. He took great pride in his home and yard and loved sitting on the deck having a cold one at the end of the day watching baseball.

He had more friends than you can count, and he loved them all. He had his favorite watering hole, too, where everyone knew his name. And he loved them all, as well. He was a truly good, strong and kind man who will be missed greatly by family and friends alike. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, at Yates Funeral Home — Hayden Chapel, 373 E. Hayden Ave., Hayden, Idaho. There will be a luncheon reception immediately after to share stories, comfort and hug each other and show love for this special man.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his name to: Hospice of North Idaho, 2290 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815. What an amazing job they do! The family could not have fulfilled his wishes without them.

Or to the Kootenai Humane Society, 11650 N. Ramsey Road, Hayden, ID 83835. Steve loved his rescued puppy dogs, Daisy May and Sugar Bean.

Please visit Steve’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.