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The son of Grace Keyes Payne and Clair L. Payne of Susquehanna, PA, Thomas was predeceased by his son, Thomas G. Payne, Jr. (Grant). He is survived by his wife, Katharine Conlon Payne. Tom had a special bond with his devoted daughter, Clare L. (Roderick) Holmes; and with his granddaughter, Jessica Holmes. He is also survived by his brother, Jesse H. (Joan) Payne of Windsor, NY; and several nieces and nephews.
After graduation from Susquehanna High School, Tom enlisted in the US Army at age 18 and took part in the Ryukus campaign of Operation Iceberg in the South Pacific during World War II. He was wounded in the battle for Okinawa and was awarded the Bronze Star and Silver Star for bravery.
After the war, Tom's education was completed at Keystone College, Pennsylvania State University and Iowa State University. In 1953, Tom came to Cornell to direct a field study for the Department of Rural Sociology. After the study he left academia for public service, originating the Tompkins County Office of Real Property Taxation. Tom served as Member of the Executive Board and then as President of the New York State Assessors Association. He participated in the writing of NY State's Assessment Improvement Bill and also wrote the description of the assessment function in the Tompkins County Charter, which established the County Assessment Department. He served as Director of Assessment of Tompkins County for 16 years. Tom was made a Fellow of the NY State Institute of Assessing Officers, of which he was a life member. He was a Project Advisor to the International Association of Assessing Officers for the preparation of its Reference Manual on improving assessments for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Tom was recognized by the IAO JOURNAL in January 2005 as one of the pioneers of assessment improvement in New York State.
Tom enjoyed keeping in touch with current lay opinions on the assessment function by debating them with his brother-in-law, Pat Conlon.
A lifelong lover of boating, Tom spent his vacations traveling the fresh water routes of New York State and Canada. He traveled to Montreal and the St. Lawrence via the Rideau Canal, cruising the Welland Canal to Toronto, the Erie Canal, the Trent Severn Canal to Georgian Bay, and after retirement took the boat to Florida via the Inland Waterway for the winter. In 1988, Tom and Kate moved aboard their trawler, "Cayuga Belle", and subsequently traveled to the Gulf of Mexico by way of the Mississippi and Tombigbee Rivers. Tom was a member of the Ithaca Yacht Club and founding member of Ithaca's Flotilla 2-2 of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
A charter member of Lansing United Methodist Church, Tom served as a Trustee. He was a life member of the Canawacta Masonic Lodge of Susquehanna, PA, and a founding and life member of the Blinded Veterans Association.
A memorial service conducted by the Rev. Wm. Gottschalk-Fielding will be held at Lansing United Methodist Church on Friday, November 16, at 11:00 a.m. followed by a reception in celebration of Tom's life and a luncheon at 12:00 noon. A committal service will be held at the convenience of the family. Gifts in Tom's memory may be made to the Memorial Committee of the Lansing Methodist Church, 32 Brickyard Rd., Lansing, NY 14882. Arrangements are under the direction of Lansing Funeral Home, 32 Auburn Road, Lansing.