Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

SOUTH THOMASTON - Amy Arlene Rackliff Payson, 81, died following an extended struggle with Alzheimer’s, Tuesday, June 5, 2012, at Woodlands Memory Care Center in Rockland.

Born March 25, 1931 in South Thomaston, she was the daughter of Archie H. and Edna M. Rowell Rackliff. She attended school in South Thomaston and was a 1948 graduate of Rockland High School.

On March 10, 1949, she married Harold H. “Dynamite” Payson and began raising a family in South Thomaston. She and Dynamite spent their honeymoon and the first several years of their marriage on Metinic Island. She had many fond memories of her life on Metinic and later spending time on Little Green Island in the Mussel Ridge Islands.

Those who knew her said she was sweet and genuine, full of light and love, that she possessed a vigorous and inquisitive mind, strong opinions, a marvelous wit and deep spirit of generosity.

She was truly an outdoor person who loved to spend her time working in the woods, in her gardens and around the yard. She could always be seen in the summer on her lawn tractor and trailer trimming grass and scything in the fields. She knew all the different birds, insects and flowers. Anything she didn’t recognize, she always had reference books to locate the species. “When I pick up a variety of objects, I marvel at God’s creating such diversity in His hands”.

She was a very dedicated mother of five who considered raising her kids and being a life partner to her husband as her life’s endeavor. She always attended her children’s and grandchildren’s school and sports functions.

Traveling was also one of her life’s passions. She traveled across country to different movie sets that her son would be working on, trips to her daughter’s in South Carolina and several out of state college graduations. She was always ready to travel at a moments notice.

Amy was a lifelong partner and devoted wife to her husband of 63 years and spent each day working with him on their boat building business and processing his manuscripts for his books. She also was a perfect host for the business customers who would frequent their shop and through this made many lifelong friends.

Amy was predeceased by her husband, her son David H. Payson; sisters, Marion Arey, Elsie Ilvonen; and a brother Maurice Rackliff. She is survived by a sister Lucy Judecki of Spruce Head; her children, Neil Payson of South Thomaston, Joy Wyatt and husband Darrell of South Carolina, Lisa Payson of South Thomaston, Timothy Payson and wife Glennis of Camden; as well as seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Family and friends are invited to visit from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with a service immediately following at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 13, 2012, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. Interment will follow at Ocean View Cemetery, South Thomaston.

Those who wish may make memorial donations to Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 383 US Route One, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074.
To share a memory or condolence with Amy’s family, please visit her online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.