Mildred Eulene Payton

Mildred Eulene Payton, 86, of Grants Pass, died Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at her home at Spring Pointe.

A visitation will be from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday, August 4, 2006 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors.

A celebration of life will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, August 5, 2006 at Bear Creek Park (near the amphitheater) in Medford with Jeffrey Tharon Payton conducting. Private interment will be at Siskiyou Memorial Park. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Remembrances may be made to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte NC 28201.

Mildred was born June 20, 1920 in Spur, Texas. In 1937 she moved to California and graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1938. In February 1939 in Yuma, Arizona she married Tharon “Bud” Payton. From 1951 to 2003 she lived in Medford where she was a homemaker and also an employee of Bear Creek Corporation for several years. In August 2003 she moved to Grants Pass.

She and her husband became followers of Jesus at Billy Graham’s first crusade held in Los Angeles, California in 1949. She attended Lozier Lane Baptist Church in Medford, First Baptist Church in Medford, and Applegate Christian Fellowship in Ruch. She volunteered as a pink lady at Rogue Valley Medical Center. She also babysat children during Women’s Bible Studies.

Her hobbies included sewing, reading, raising roses, square dancing, and performing as a clown for children’s parties. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include three children, Barry Wayne Payton of Tacoma, Washington; Janice Ouida Wolber of Grants Pass; and Jeffrey Tharon Payton of Medford; a sister, Ouida Grace Mack of Glendora, California; eight grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.