Mr. Payson graduated from Millis (MA) High school in 1965, from McPherson (KS) College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and from the University of Missouri, Kansas City with a Master of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Science. Considered as one of the “founding fathers” of the Pikeville (KY) College School of Osteopathic Medicine, Mr. Payson was the school’s Associate Dean of Student Affairs at the time of his death. Prior to moving to Pikeville, KY in 1997, Mr. Payson had been with the University of Health Science’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, MO for 28 years. The Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons honored Mr. Payson with their Gold Medallion award in 1995 for outstanding contributions made to the Osteopathic profession. He was named the University of Health Sciences' College of Osteopathic Medicine's Instructor of the Year in 1977 and in 1996 its Most Valuable Administrator. In 2002, the Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine student body named Mr. Payson the Administrator of the Year. Mr. Payson was a member of the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Regional Advisory Council for the Missouri Department of Mental Health, and provided drug counseling for several treatment centers and organizations. He served as the chair of an institutional review board for Innovex, Inc. in Lenexa, KS. He was also a Golden Gloves physician assistant in Kansas City, a lifetime member of the Men's Garden Club of America, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Pikeville, and an avid fly angler. He was the author of the book A Handbook for Your 50’s Or The Brokering of Wisdom. His survivors include his wife, Marilynn (Leeper) Payson of Pikeville, KY; one son, Ben Payson of Wichita, KS; one daughter, Della Valenzuela and her husband, Steve, of Kansas City, MO; and three grandchildren, Lexus Payson, Hayden Payson and Alex Valenzuela. A memorial service was held in Pikeville, KY following his death. On Monday, August 24, 2009, the anniversary of his death, a graveside service officiated by Rev. Rebecca Black will be held at 1PM at the Payson family lot in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Auburn Road, Millis. If desired, donations may be made in his memory to the Payson Memorial Fund, c/o Pikeville College, 147 Sycamore Street, Pikeville, KY 41501, or the Mary Payson Scholarship Fund, c/o Middlesex Bank, 24 Milliston Road, Millis, MA 02054. |
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