Katherine Irene Payne, age 86, of Hendersonville, passed away Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Carolina Caring.

She was born November 11, 1935, in Watauga County. A daughter of the late Fred E. Payne and Hazel Greene Payne. She attended Appalachian High School graduating in 1954. She furthered her education at Charlotte Memorial School of nursing graduating in 1956 as a RN. She had a long career of nursing of forty years retiring from Pardee Hospital in 1999.

She is survived by two sisters, Carol J. Politte and Carolyn Janette Payne Hollar and husband Bob, one brother Vilas Payne and wife Stena, eight nieces Lavonda Payne, Angel Payne Teague and husband Jim, Debra Payne Cope, Caroline Politte Aleman and husband Gene, Misti Payne Coffey and husband Jody, Michelle Payne Scott and wife Staci, Cherie Hollar, Sonya H. Schofield and husband Hunter and Cathy Rae Lowther and husband Frank; four nephews, Richard Hester and wife Dannelle, Anthony Hester and wife Julie, Brian Payne and Baron Hollar and wife Malanie. She is also survived by a number of great nieces, and great nephews and great-great nieces and great-great nephews.

In addition to her father and mother she was preceded in death by three siblings, Vaughn C. Payne, Glenn R. Payne, and McDonald Payne and two nephews Reginald Payne and Ethan Hester.

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at Mountain View Baptist Church at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Reverend Branton Burleson and Reverend Sherrill Wellborn will officiate.

The family will receive friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers or food memorials may be made to Carolina Caring Hospice at www.carolinacaring.org or to Mountain View Baptist Church Cemetery Fund c/o Brian Quinlan 998 Mountain View Road, Deep Gap, North Carolina 28618.

Online condolences may be sent to the Payne family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.