George Paine

George Medley Paine, Junior, age 85, died May 17, 2018 at Hospice of the Valley, St. Joseph's Hospital, in Phoenix, Arizona.

He was born January 18, 1933, in St. Paul, Neosho County, Kansas, to George Medley Hill Paine and Evelyn Rose Rena (Bracken) Paine.

After graduating from St. Francis High School in St. Paul in 1951, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served at Sidi Slimane AFB in French Morocco, Africa in 1953, and then served at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma City. Mr. Paine, who attained the rank of staff sergeant, was honorably discharged in 1956.

He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Pittsburg State University in 1960 and taught English and Journalism at several high schools across Kansas before coming to Caney High School in 1969, where he taught two years.

Mr. Paine married Fairy Joan George on June 26, 1971, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Coffeyville, Kansas. Their son, Edward George Paine, was born December 16, 1972, in Caney.

In 1971, the Paines purchased The Oswego Independent in Oswego, Kansas. In 1973, Mr. Paine won the sweepstakes award from the Kansas Press Association. In 1975, Mr. Paine survived a brain aneurysm and retired from publishing. He then resided in Caney from 1976 to 2001, before moving to Sun City, Arizona.

An avid genealogist, Mr. Paine wrote a book called Hope Cemetery Records which contains obituaries of those buried in St. Paul's Hope Cemetery. He published a genealogy of Stephen Payne/Paine, Senior, a history of his first ancestor to emigrate to America in 1638.

He attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Caney, and St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Sun City. He belonged to the Kansas Sons of the American Revolution and the Osage Mission-Neosho County Historical Society. He also was a member of the Norris-Carter Post No. 116 of the American Legion in St. Paul.

Preceding him in death were his parents; two sisters, and three brothers. He is survived by his wife Joan; and his son Edward Paine, and his wife Stephanie, all of Phoenix, Arizona; and by several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 5 PM to 7 PM on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at Potts Chapel in Caney. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 AM on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. Robert Spencer officiating. Burial will follow in Hope Cemetery at St. Paul. Online condolence may be left to the family by visiting www.pottsfuneralhome.com.

Visitation

Potts Chapel of Caney
107 North State
Caney, KS  67333
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Service

Mass of Christian Burial

Sacred Heart Catholic Church
301 N. Hooker
Caney, KS  67333
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
10:00AM

Cemetery

Hope Cemetery
St. Paul, KS