Roland (Slim) Payne, also known as Ted to his family in Maine, passed away peacefully on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, at home surrounded by his family. He was 89 years young.

He was born Aug. 2, 1933, in Eliot to the late Francis Payne Sr. and Relefa McIntire Payne of Denmark.

Roland attended schools in Eliot, Denmark and York. Roland started working for Omega Electric in South Burlington on Aug. 2, 1967; he sold his share of ownership in Omega in 1995 to start his retirement in Cabot, Vt. 

He married Cecile Alexandria Payne in 1958 and together they had three children. They were married for 58 years, until her death in 2017. 

He loved the outdoors and took Cecile and his children on many trips and taught them to love travel and the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, who loved to spend time outdoors with friends and family. Later in life, he started raising and selling organic Christmas trees. He loved seeing the joy his trees gave people. He was a kind, generous, and compassionate man. He was always happiest when he was helping others. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Cecile Alexandria Payne; his brothers Francis Payne Jr., Rayfield Payne, Dennis Payne, Carroll Payne and Herbert Payne; and sisters Gwendolyn Teague and Velma Ellis. 

He is survived by his children, Melony Payne Harris of Oakland, Calif., Roland Payne, Jr. of Cabot, Vt., and Wendy Payne Guay of Burlington, Vt; his brothers, George Payne of Keystone Heights, Fla. and Robert Payne of Raymond; a sister, Sandra Utterstrom of Falmouth; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A memorial service will be held in the summer of 2023.