Lyndsay Georgette Payne

Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14

Obituary

Lyndsay Georgette Payne, 68, passed away peacefully on May 9, 2024 in Georgetown, Texas, after struggling with illness for many years. In her life, Lyndsay dedicated herself to caring; as a nurse, as a mother, and as a generous friend. Despite a life that was often difficult, she leaves behind a legacy of loving easily and fully, bringing kindness and warmth to the lives of all she met.

Lyndsay was born September 19, 1956 in Three Rivers, Texas as Patricia Louise Chandler. She was adopted at birth by Dr. James Gipson and his wife, Nurse Freda, who delivered her. They named her Freda Georgette Gipson, “Junior,” and brought her home to Fort Stockton, Texas. In her youth, Freda played many roles—beauty queen, trombonist, arrowhead hunter—but none so influential to her future as Doctor’s helper. In the hours she spent assisting her parents at their clinic, she developed a passion for caring for others, and decided to pursue medicine.

But shortly before high school graduation, Freda’s father passed unexpectedly. She and her mother struggled greatly with his loss, emotionally and financially. But Freda was undeterred. She put herself through college at Texas Tech University, then Del Mar Nursing School, all while making regular trips back to Fort Stockton to support her mother. In 1981 she achieved her goal of becoming a nurse.

It was at Texas Tech that Freda met her future husband, Alan Payne. They were married in 1978. Nurse Gipson became Nurse Payne—a name she quickly learned did not go over well, and went by Nurse Freda instead. After her mother passed in 1985, Freda decided that she’d been “Junior” long enough and changed her name to Lyndsay. Of all her names, she liked this one most of all.

In 1985, Lyndsay achieved her other greatest wish: becoming a mother. Her son, Tyler, joined their family; then in 1989, so did her daughter, Kelsey.

Lyndsay loved being a mother. She loved it so much that she practically adopted many of Tyler and Kelsey’s friends. Their house was sleepover central for Kelsey’s very loud—seriously, shrieking—group of friends, and Lyndsay loved every minute of it. She was also the first call when Tyler’s crew found themselves in trouble with the law—which happened more often than you might think, given how upstanding they all are now.

When Lyndsay and her family made Austin their new—and long term—home in 1993, they knew almost no one. But Lyndsay had a way of building communities wherever she went. Before long, she had found a vast network of friends, many of whom consider her family. Lyndsay always longed for loving siblings, and eventually she found them in her many ‘sisters-of-the-heart.’

Friends, family, patients, kids, and strangers (aka, soon-to-be-friends) alike knew Lyndsay to be loving, kind, and genuinely interested to know you. And this remained true, even as her health declined. Despite extreme pain and a memory clouded by medication, she often knew just when to ask after a loved one, sing happy birthday via text, or call just to say hi.

Lyndsay joins in death her own parents, James & Freda, as well as her beloved Aunt Bebe, Aunt Mamie, Aunt Doris, & Uncle Lem, and her treasured in-laws June & Gene Payne. Lyndsay is survived by her two children, Tyler & Kelsey, her daughter-in-law, Chrissy, her son-in-law, Ian, her three grandchildren, Emma, Zoe, & Caden, her ex-husband, Alan, her brothers & sisters-in-law, her nieces & nephews, and the many ‘sisters’ that she has gathered over the years. 

A celebration of Lyndsay’s life will be held Tuesday, May 21st at 2pm at the Smith Family Chapel located on the Riverbend Campus, 4214 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78746. A reception at the Riverbend Community Center will follow. All are welcome.

Lyndsay’s ashes will be interred at Remembrance Gardens on the Riverbend Campus.

Please share condolences or memories on the Memory Wall below.

Flowers may be sent to the Smith Family Chapel located on the Riverbend Campus, 4214 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78746. In Lyndsay’s memory, donations may be made to Lyndsay’s Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood by either (1) mailing a check to 8305 Talbot Lane, Austin, TX, 78746 made payable to “Chapter BQ P.E.O.” or (2) sending a Zelle payment to peotxbq@gmail.com.

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