Obituary of Frederick Payne

Payne, Frederick J. 75, of Kentville passed away Sunday, April 8th,2007 in the Valley Regional Hospital, Kentville. Born September 18th 1931 in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, he was the son of the late Dr. Guy and Eloise (Fitch) Payne. Surviving him is his wife the former, Barbara Ann (Sucy); sons: Stephen Eric (Linda), Scarborough, Maine; Daniel Alan (Susan), Emerald, Australia; Jon David (Janet), Kentville; daughter, Jody Debra, Brockton, Massachusetts; six grandsons: Jeffrey, Eric, Cody, Colton, Ethan & Isaac; brother, Dr. John Payne (Natalie), Pasquag, Rhode Island. He was predeceased by half brother, Dr. Guy Payne Jr.; half sister, Helen Brailor. Fred graduated from New Lebanon Central School, Lebanon Springs, New York; served in the U.S. Navy aboard the destroyer USS Robert A. Owens DDE 827. He also attended Syracuse University and the University of Maine. He worked as a forester with the Pennsylvania Department of Lands and Forests and as a consulting forester with the New England Forestry Foundation of Vermont. After completing a master??s degree he joined the Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests in 1961 as a waterfowl and wetlands biologist. Spending one year as Waterfowl Project leader with the Vermont Department of Fish and Game in Addison, Vermont. He returned to Nova Scotia in 1965, received a Merit Award from the Atlantic Society of Fish and Wildlife Biologists. He then retired having been Manager of Wildlife Resources in 1998 from the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources. After retirement he did some consulting and was an Honorary Research Associate at Acadia University in Wolfville. In 2006, a monument was erected at the 5000 acre Missiquash Marsh which was dedicated in his name by his peers in recognition for his outstanding contribution to wetland and environmental conservation in Atlantic Canada. Fred was a member of Ducks Unlimited and other nature oriented groups. Being an avid hunter and fisherman he revered nature??s own cathedral and respected those natural systems that support all life. After his retirement, Fred enjoyed writing and the company of his friends. He will always be remembered as an original thinker, gentleman, friend and mentor by many. No visitation or funeral service by family request. In place of attending a funeral, the deceased requests friends to set aside a few hours to smell their favorite roses in memory. Donations may be made to Dying with Dignity 55 Eglinton Ave. E Suite 802, Toronto, Ont. M4P 1G8 or the charity of one??s choice. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Annapolis Valley Funeral Home, 34 Coldbrook Village Park Drive (Exit 14) Coldbrook. Online condolences may be made through www.annapolisvalleyfuneralhome.com.