Joseph Neale Payne, Sr., 86, of Payneway died Tuesday, Oct. 17 at the Three Rivers Nursing Center.

He was a Methodist and served in the Army Air Corp as a 1st Lt. and a pilot. He was active in the Boy Scouts and served as President of the Eastern Arkansas Area Council of Scouting. He received the Silver Beaver Award and from the Order of the Arrow, the Wood Badge award. He was an Eagle Scout. He was a life time member of the Rotary Club, having served as President. He was founder of the Water Association in Payneway. He was a ginner and cotton merchant, and he was the son of pioneer residents of Poinsett County, Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Payne.

He was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.

Survivors include his wife Martha Ewing Payne of Payneway; two sons, Neale Payne, Jr. and his wife Ann of Memphis and Jim Payne and his wife Sue of Southaven, Miss.; one sister, Elinor Payne LeVine and her husband David of Alpine, TX, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Friday at Murphy Funeral Home Chapel in Marked Tree with Rev. Joe Sparks officiating.