Arlo "Leon" Payne, age 76, of New Strawn, Kansas, passed away Wednesday morning September 30, 2020 at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka, Kansas. Leon was born in Larned, Kansas on December 30, 1943 to Amy (Newell) Payne and John Howard Payne. He graduated from Wichita High School South in 1963. He married his high school sweetheart, Lola Kathleen "Kathy" Lemon on February 14, 1964. They had three sons.

Leon worked as a machinist in Wichita, Kansas until 1970 at which time their family relocated to Arkansas so Leon could join his father's filling station business. A few years later he began his career in the nuclear industry. Over the years he worked at power plants in Arkansas, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Arizona before settling in New Strawn. He retired from Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996. In 2001 he joined the Kan-Seal team where he worked for 9 more years. In recent years Leon worked part-time at Chrisman Hardware Store.

Leon was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and a member of Knights of Columbus 4 ^th Degree. He served 8 years on the New Strawn City Council. He enjoyed woodworking and photography. He and Kathy were avid travelers in their motorhome. As full-time RVers they served as camp hosts in many states across the nation over the past 10 years. Leon particularly enjoyed making new friends; he didn't know a stranger.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two infant brothers, and a brother in law, Verlin Freeman.

Leon leaves his wife Kathy of 56 years and their three sons; Kevin (Angie) Lyndon, Kansas, Edward (Antoine) Haysville, Kansas, Michael (Janet) Burlington, Kansas; grandchildren Justin Payne (Jessica) McMinnville, Oregon, Kristen Buchman (Cale) Edmond, Oklahoma, Mackenzie Payne (fiancé Kendall Jeffers) Burlington, Kansas, Joshua Payne, Lyndon, Kansas, Jayden Payne, Burlington, Kansas; two great-grand-daughters Hensley Buchman and Jade Payne; brother Thomas Mealy (Denise) Floyd, Virginia, sister Judy Freeman, Atkins, Arkansas, brother Martin Payne, Liberty Hill, Texas and countless nieces, nephews, and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M., Monday, October 5, 2020, at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, in Burlington. The family will receive friends on Sunday 6:00 P.M. until 7:30 P.M. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the  Highland Cemetery, Winfield, KS.

Memorial contributions in Leon's name can be made to the Coffey County Cancer Support Group, and may be sent to Jones Funeral Home, P.O. Box, Burlington, Kansas 66839.

Masks are required at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church