Hubert Delong Payton

Sonora-Hubert (Jake) DeLong Payton of Sonora passed away, Tuesday, September 13, 2016 in Eldorado. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 10:00a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Mertzon. Burial will follow in Mertzon Cemetery. Hubert (Jake) DeLong Payton was born August 13, 1931 in Mertzon, Texas. He was the only child of Hubert Lambert and Vinabel DeLong Payton. After the death of his father, his mother married John Weir Hall. The family lived and ranched in Mertzon. After graduating from Mertzon High School, Hubert attended Texas Tech University. He joined the U.S. Marine Corp in January, 1951. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, where he met his wife, Shirley Anne Hughey. Hubert and Shirley were married July 26, 1952. After his discharge in January, 1954, the couple moved to Robert Lee, Texas, where he went to work for Sun Oil Company. He retired from Sun Oil in 1986, after 30 1/2 years of service. after retirement they moved back to Mertzon. He was the manager of the Irion County Underground Water District. After he retired from the Water District, he started raising Boer goats and ranching. The couple lived in Mertzon until August 2013, when they moved to Sonora to be near their children. Hubert was a member of the First United Methodist Church, and the Masonic Lodge. He was an avid fan of Irion County school sports, and received the Fan of The Year award in 2012. Hubert enjoyed fishing, hunting, and hunting arrowheads, of which he had quite a collection. He is survived by his wife of 64 1/2 years, Shirley, and their children, Debra Elizabeth Geske and husband Ronnie, son Thomas Weir Payton and wife Pam, Donna Ann Gordon and husband John, Lisa Annette Dougherty and husband Patrick, nine grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. Pallbearers are Eric Geske, Jason Geske, Joshua Payton, Brian Payton, Sean Dougherty, and Corbin Boggs. Honorary pallbearers are Lloye Tankersley, Scot Holland, Johnny Mayse, Bert Mayse, Dan McClung, Bob Seger ,Geoff Hughey, Randy Searcy and Milton Puckett. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimers Research Association-ALZ.ORG, or the charity of choice. The family wishes to thank those who helped us in our time of need, Sutton Co. EMS, Lillian Hudspeth hospital, Brooks Army Medical Center, Schleicher County Nursing Home, and Kindred Hospice. To all our friends who have kept us in their thoughts and prayers, thank you so much. We have been blessed. online condolences may be made at lovefuneralhome.net