Nordheim celebrated Mayor Katherine Payne’s 17-year tenure at the Recreation Center, which she helped renovate from a fire truck garage into a venue for proms and other community events.
“She had this vision where the kids could come to the Rec Center in the summer when it’s hot,” her daughter, Christie Bybee, said.
Mayor Payne was born and raised in Nordheim to a banking family and married her high school sweetheart. Over the years, the family led a transient life, moving every two years due to Mr. Payne’s work in the oil and gas industry. Denver was their last destination before Mr. Payne passed away in 1984. During that time, Mayor Payne became a coach, creating a competitive girls' Little League softball team that fed into Cherry Creek High School in Denver.
In 2002, Mayor Payne called her oldest daughter, Christie Bybee, to share her decision to move back to Nordheim. A few years later, Bybee received another call informing her that her mother was going to run for city council. However, since the mayoral position was open, Mayor Payne decided to run for that instead, and she has served in that role for nearly 17 years.
Both of Payne's daughters, Christie and Joanne, emphasized how much their mother loves Nordheim.
“She wanted to give something back to the town. She absolutely loves this town. We used to joke that she loves this town more than us,” they said.
Rene Garcia spoke of Mayor Payne's dedication to Nordheim.
“She's there early in the morning, and if there's a break, like a water break, she will be there in her golf cart. Yes, she's seen everything. We're going to miss her,” Garcia said.
Mayor Payne’s successor, Patricia Garcia, is a former high school biology teacher and the previous owner of Edgar and Gladys’ Café. Garcia will be sworn in this coming Wednesday, April 7. She expressed her commitment to continuing Payne’s legacy, with a particular focus on the school.
