Mt. Ayr
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45 Years After Their Vows
Today, January 31, 2021, marks exactly 45 years since my parents married. This is the first year they’re both in heaven for their anniversary. Dad’s been gone for nearly 21 years, and after he passed, mom remarried an amazing man. Still, this day always marks sadness and happiness for me since I arrived later in the year that they married. So, here’s a little backstory. This is based on a conversation I had with my mom at her house in 2019, the year before she unexpectedly passed away. Mom, Margaret “Peggy” Munns, had graduated from Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1974. She wanted to teach high school Spanish and…
- Ellston, Idaho, Iowa, Maryville, Missouri, Mt. Ayr, Nebraska, Payne, Pocatello, Reynolds, Rock Rapids, Utah, World War II
Mark Payne Memories
This weekend marked what would’ve been the 67th birthday for my dad, Mark Payne, who was born on January 25, 1953. This year is a milestone one since we lost him unexpectedly, because this coming March will be 20 years. I was 22 when the call came. My dad was someone who wanted better and expected more from his kids than what he had growing up. He was also someone who got pulled back into bad habits, so he often balanced that tight rope. Mark Edward Payne was born in Maryville, Nodaway Co., Missouri. He was the oldest of five kids born to Milo Howard Payne and Lois June Reynolds…
