Nancy Hill Payne

Nancy Hill Payne 1918 April 6, 2012 Falmouth, ME - On April 6, the engine that powered a keen, inquisitive and creative mind finally ran out of steam. For the better part of a century, Nancy Payne ran at full throttle, engaged in life, her community and her family. An author, painter, legislator and activist, she enjoyed two distinct lives in her 94 years; the first as wife, mother, employee and volunteer and the second as an unbounded and accomplished widow, politician, artist, writer and creative force. Born the first of identical twins in 1918 in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, (yes, she was very competitive from the beginning) she was the daughter of Dr. Lewis Webb Hill and Pauline Dexter Hill. A 1936 graduate of the Winsor School and an art history major in the class of '41 at Radcliffe College, Nancy married William Hancock Payne, Jr. of Wynnewood, PA in 1942. Together they raised four children having lived in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts before settling in Portland, ME in 1950. She was active in United Way, Junior League, Cub Scouts, American Field Service and Deering Pathfinders PTA where she helped author "The Teenage Code", a guide of conduct for area high school students. She often said, "If you set the bar high, you'll never be disappointed even if you fall short." In later years, she served on the boards of the YWCA, Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging and the Portland Red Cross. Her early work-life included owning a second-hand children's clothing shop run from the back of her home in Deering Center and helping launch her husband's insurance agency from the living room. In addition, she researched and authored both "Living In Portland" and "Community Facts" for Tower Publishing Company. In the mid-'70s, she was co-director with Ellen Higgins of the Marketplace, the first craft gallery in Portland's Old Port. She also became involved in politics as a field organizer for the successful repeal of straight ticket voting in Maine under the leadership of Bob Monks and later served as the scheduler for the 1972 Monks for Senate campaign. When she was suddenly widowed in 1978, her second life began. She decided to run for the Maine House of Representatives and was the first Republican legislator to be elected from Portland in 16 years. She served a single term and decided grass roots party development was more satisfying so she chose, instead, to serve as a GOP county and state committee member. In 1984 she was elected at the state convention to represent Maine on the Republican National Committee. To satisfy her creative side, she dove into both art and writing. She was a regular exhibitor at area art shows selling her whimsical water colors and pine needle baskets. In 1997, at the age of 79, she wrote and self-published her first book, "Widowing, a Guide to Another Life." With three printings behind her, she decided to write "Phoenix / Maine", a novel that focused on "creating greater bi-partisanship in politics and civility in all relationships." Her friend Rabbi Harry Skye wrote in the forward, "Her writing style rings with her essential genuineness. I will always cherish this book as I cherish its author." Her fervent belief that courtesy, enthusiasm, intellectual curiosity and positive thinking were essential characteristics for a well-rounded life was reflected in all she did and wrote. One of her last volunteer efforts was serving as a founding member of the board of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Southern Maine, also known as Senior College. She not only attended classes but also taught a course in art history. For her 90th birthday, she instituted a fund for the development of cultural diversity at OLLI hoping to draw new members and faculty from the many cultures now living in the Greater Portland area. She was pre-deceased by her husband, William and her twin sister, Penelope Dwinell of Dedham, MA. She is survived by her daughter Nancy P. Alexander of Ellsworth, and her sons William H. Payne III and his wife Elizabeth of Boxford, MA, Lewis H. Payne and his wife Clare of Holden, ME and Anthony M. Payne and his wife Grace of Falmouth. In addition, she was the proud grandmother of Abigail Alexander and her husband Chad Goodwin of Hollywood, FL, William Payne IV and his wife Christa of Chattanoogo, TN, Nell Dailey and her husband Andrew of Warren, ME, John Payne of Brooklyn, NY, Julia Bailin, her husband Daniel Bailin and Edward Payne, all of Portland and Hank, Halsey and Gordon Payne of Falmouth. She also had five great grandchildren with two more on the way! The Payne family wishes to thank the seventh floor staff of Richards Wing at Maine Medical Center for serving as both her care givers and an appreciative audience for the last week of her lifelong performance. She had a ball getting to know you. In addition, we wish to thank all her friends who, over the years, have been equally caring, kind and loyal. A fun and loving memorial celebration for friends and family will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 12 in the new Wishcamper Center, the home of OLLI, at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to OLLI or your favorite charity.