Eileen Joan Payne

January 7, 1929 - September 10, 2011

Eileen J. Sutherland Payne was 82 when her spirit was set free on September 10, 2011; she was born January 7, 1929 in Wheeling, West Virginia to Captain Hugh Sutherland and Genevieve Regina Reinhardt. Eileen traveled with her parents from Ohio, to Antioch, California, where she met and married Bill Payne. After a move to Arizona and a short detour in 1952 to Yerington, Nevada they settled in the Reno/Carson City area in 1954. Eileen loved her family above all else. She was a Boy Scout Leader, a 4-H leader teaching sewing, a member of the Washoe Valley homemaker’s, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), the Washoe Zephyr Square Dancers and loved the outdoors by camping and traveling in her RV. She was a member of the Silver Sage Chapter of the Good Sam Club where she was the Sunshine Chairman for many years, and a member of the St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Community and enjoyed being a member of the St. Teresa Lady’s Guild holding the office of Treasurer. She had a passion for Nevada and Nevada history. One of the most enjoyable times of her life was when she worked as a tour guide at Bowers Mansion. She did extensive research on Nevada history and passed her knowledge on to all who were lucky enough to join in one of her tours. Eileen cherished every moment she could spend with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Eileen was preceded in death by her grandson, Daniel R. Payne; sisters, Grace Knauss and Ruth Carpenter; parents Captain Hugh Sutherland and Genevieve Regina Reinhardt. She is survived by her three children, Billy R. Payne (Barbara), Robert D. Payne (Deborah) and Regina Payne Nichols (Ken), seven grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.