Susan Payment

In the year of our Lord 1949, on November 1, Susan Carol (Blakey) Payment was born to Dee Byron Blakey and Carol Wooley; and in the year of our Lord 2024 on March 14, God said, “Susie, your time on earth is done!” And Jesus said, “She believes in me, and is mine.” And the Father said, “Take her in your arms, tell her ‘Welcome!’ Peace, joy, and everlasting love are hers—our beautiful daughter is home!” Susie was born in Wichita, Kansas, and attended Wichita North High School and Wichita Business College. Susie then began a career path that took her many different directions. This included moving to Seattle to work for Blue Cross as a keypunch operator; selling Tupperware on the side until it became a full-time job; a move to Yakima to be a distributor for an automative additive company; a stint at People’s Department Store in the shoe department; a distributorship with the Dare Cookie Company; and working in the office for Godfrey’s Acoustical. After leaving Godfrey’s, Susie joined the AdTemp company and worked data entry at Darigold in Yakima for a short time. It was at this point that she found her career “home” in 1987 at Haney Truck Line. At Haney, Susie briefly worked in the payroll department, then transferred to the safety department where she stayed until her retirement in 2013. She received many awards in her places of employment, and was always ready and willing to help. No problem was beyond being fixed if Susie was involved. Susie’s quest to succeed carried over into her home life. When the family played board games together, she would take her time when it was her turn—she didn’t want to make any mistakes! Her bookkeeping was also meticulous. Everything Susie did, she wanted to do well. Susie’s sense of humor and work ethic were always on display as she helped on the family ranch after her marriage to Rick in 1989, whether it was helping cut pigs, load cows, or drive a tractor. The occasional disaster didn’t stop Susie! Even after having her nose smashed by a gate that the cows backed into, Susie was the one giving directions for a bucket to keep blood from getting on the pickup as they headed to the hospital. Susie helped to run a two-truck company with Rick and her son Charlie. In addition to taking care of the office end of things, she would find loads for them to haul. Rick likes to tell the story of the infamous “bean” load that Susie set up for him—when it didn’t turn out the way he expected, she gave that special little smile that let him know he just needed to get over it! On the domestic side of things, Susie loved to go shopping, and baked the best apple pies. On the not-so-domestic side, she was a faithful helper and cheerer-on with Rick’s drag racing hobby and could be found with him many weekends at dragstrips around Eastern Washington. As busy as Susie was, she was never too busy for our Lord and took every opportunity to share her love for God in the way she lived her life and spoke of His plan of salvation. She taught Sunday School for many years and at her death was a member of the Orchardview Bible Missionary Church. Susie was a wonderful lady who was much loved and appreciated by all. Susie was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Judith, brothers Wade and Paul, and daughter Stacy. She is survived by her husband Rick; sons Charlie (Shanna), Kevin, Chad (Kelci), and Matt (Jessica); sisters Deeann and April; brothers Byron, Lance, Scott, and Claude; as well as nine grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Susan Payment, please visit our flower store.