Lake Forest Obituary: Carol Payne, 73

Carol Russell Payne, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, October 3 at the age of 73. Carol faced her breast cancer with grace and a fierce determination to live her life to the fullest. Born on November 21, 1945 in Decatur, IL, Carol was the daughter of the late Harman and Florence Russell and younger sister of James D. (Kay) Russell. The family moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where Carol graduated from West End High School. After graduating from the Mississippi College for Women in 1967, she married the love of her life, Thomas D. Payne. While Tom was in graduate school, Carol accompanied him and a small group of students to Versailles, France, where he led a semester of architectural history study. Upon finishing his teaching duties, Tom and Carol traveled Europe on a shoestring and had the time of their lives. This experience ignited a passion in Carol for all things French, which she rekindled on an adventure with close friends to London and Paris after receiving the diagnosis of her second cancer. After Tom finished graduate school, the couple moved to Evanston where Tom began his career in Urban Planning/Design and Carol became the accessories buyer for Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. They moved to Lake Forest in 1977 to raise their sons Stephen Ward (Renee) and Jonathan Russell. As the boys grew, Carol became a highly successful real estate agent, first with Raynor and then in the early 1990s, with Coldwell Banker. She later became the office administrator of the Lake Forest Coldwell Banker office for 13 years, running it with a firm and loving hand. Carol also was a founding member of the Lake Forest Learning Disabilities Association and later served a term as its President. She also served several terms on the Lake Forest APT board. In addition to her brother and sons, Carol is survived by her beloved grandson Nolan (son of Stephen and Renee) and many nieces and nephews. She was a doting mother to Daisy, her well loved golden doodle, who has been adopted by Liza and Tyler Hansen. Her many loving friends and family cherish the beautiful memories of happy and special times together. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 12 at Wenban Funeral Home, 320 Vine Avenue, Lake Forest, IL, with a memorial service to start at 11 a.m. at Wenban Funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to ALS Association Greater Chicago Chapter, 220 West Huron Street, Suite 4003, Chicago, IL 60654 or American Cancer Society, 225 Michigan Avenue, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60601. Info: Wenban Funeral Home (847) 234-0022 or www.wenbanfh.com