June Patricia Payne, 81, passed away on October 27, 2011. She was born in Socorro, New Mexico, but her family moved to Arizona shortly afterward. She is survived by eight first cousins by the names of Forsman, Payne, Pierce and Todd. June graduated from North Phoenix High School and Arizona State College. June was an associate editor for the Arizona Beverage Journal and had a twenty eight year career in academic publications for ASU. She joined Arizona Press Women and served in several state offices. June was active in the Photographic Society of America and the ASU Retirees Association for which she established a living history video project for members. She was the proud member of a pioneer Arizona family and had just completed a book called "I Must Go There Someday" which was a historical account of the Payne family.



Her colleague Dean Smith has added the following remembrance of June: “June was the first editor I hired (1960) for the new Bureau of Publications at ASU, and she served with great skill in that position for 28 years, even after I retired at the end of 1983. I have never had a more competent colleague. Moreover, she was so very good at pleasing all those whom we served. I’ll never forget that she planned and carried out the surprise retirement dinner for me, at which she managed to get top executives of ASU and even Governor Bruce Babbitt to come and speak. Quite a feat! June was completely selfless, never wanting any public recognition of her fine work. She was a tireless worker for the ASU Retirees Association, her camera club and Arizona Press Women. Her passing has robbed me of one of my best friends, and I will never forget her."