Dan Anthony Payne

OZARK… Mr. Dan Anthony Payne, a resident of Ozark, died Thursday morning, November 9, 2023, in a Pensacola, Florida hospital. He was 69.

            Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, November 14, 2023, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Brian Presley officiating. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home.

            Growing up in a military family, Dan traveled a lot at a young age. While living for four years in England, he was able to visit much of Europe. Dan graduated as Valedictorian of Moreno Valley High School in California. He then attended Troy University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude.

            After college, Dan traveled to Israel for a year where he worked on a farm. On his return, he enrolled in law school at Mercer University in Georgia. After graduation, he served on active duty for four years as a J.A.G. Officer with the United States Army. This was followed by several more years in the Army Reserves.

            Dan’s civilian career path led him to become an attorney for the United States Army Corps of Engineers where he was known as knowledgeable and well-prepared litigator in the courtroom. In 1990, Dan was deployed to the Middle East for Operation Desert Storm.

            Dan was a humble man, he liked horses and dogs and was always willing to lend a hand. He will be missed. He was preceded in death by his father, Roy Payne, Sr. He is survived by his mother, Janie Strickland Payne; brother, Edwin Payne (Sherry), sister, Teresa Payne and nephew, Scott Payne. In addition, he is survived by his Strickland aunts and uncles along with many cousins.

            Serving as active pallbearers will be Mike Strickland, Bill Strickland, Wes Strickland, Wade Strickland, Mike Wolfe, Reid Strickland, and Randy Strickland.

            The family would like to extend a special thanks to Mike Strickland who provided support and transportation to and from Pensacola during Dan’s hospital stay.