Debra Kay Payne, 67, who was living in Tucson, but always thought of Alamogordo as home, departed this life on December 13, 2025.
Debbie was born in Waterloo, Iowa on July 24, 1958, to Ralph Eugene and Dolly Ford. They did not stay in Iowa long and Debbie went to school and graduated from VIT High School in Table Grove, Illinois. In 1980 she had her first son, Michael, and shortly after moved to Alamogordo, New Mexico where she met Marty Payne. They were together for 25 years and had one child, Kodi, in 1988. Their relationship was cut short by Marty’s untimely death in 2006. After a couple of years of intense mourning, Debbie met Richard Frazier who spent the next 18 years by her side. Debbie loved to have fun and was very passionate with everything she did. She was a bar manager for most of her working life and spent many of her nights in a bar room. She was quick to boss her patrons around (and they loved her for it) and tougher than most of her bouncers. Soon after her first grandchild, Matthew, was born Debbie left Alamogordo to help take care of him in Louisiana, then Arizona. She did not love the Arizona summers, but loved her grandkids (her second, Maddison, was born in Arizona).
Debbie was preceded in death by her father, Ralph; her stepdad, Rex; her mother, Dolly; her younger brother, Ralph; her husband, Marty; as well as a number of friends, relatives and beloved dogs. She is survived by her boys, Kodi, Michael and his family, Amanda, Matthew, and Maddison. She is also survived by Frazier and their dog Turbo.
The Services for Debbie will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2025, at the Alamogordo Funeral Home, 2301 First St. in Alamogordo, NM. Visitation will be held from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. Funeral Service will be at 12:00 pm followed by a procession and interment at Monte Vista Cemetery.
The Payne family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Alamogordo Funeral Home to direct the funeral services.
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