Linda "Joey" Payne

Joey Payne, 73, passed into the arms of her loving Savior early in the morning on February 15th, 2024. She ended her long fight with cancer in hospice at her son’s home in Twin Falls, ID. 

She was born Linda Jo (Joey) Lewis in Eureka, CA on June 21st, 1950 to Rev. Leslie to Laura Lewis. She moved to Twin Falls, ID in 1982 where she lived the remaining 42 years of her impactful life. 

Joey was first married to Lari Goss in 1970. During that time, she traveled and sang gospel music with The Hymntime Singers. She and Lari had two sons. When they separated, Joey moved to Twin Falls, ID. There she met and married Gary Heidemann, a firefighter for the city. She and Gary also had two sons. Joey was always an active and vibrant member of her church, and a stay-at-home mom who homeschooled her boys. Joey and her husband Gary were married for 23 years, until he tragically passed away while on duty. Widowed in 2005, she found and married Thomas Payne of Twin Falls, ID on Sept. 30th, 2007. 

She is survived by her husband Thomas, and her four sons B.J. (Julie) Goss, Nick (RaeAnna) Goss, Robert (Nikki) Heidemann, Gary, Jr. (Michelle) Heidemann, and her three step children, David (Sylvia) Payne, Gaby (John) Vaught, and Phillip (Darci) Payne. 

As a testimony to her life of faith, her sons and daughters-in-law all know and love the Lord, as do her grandchildren: Christopher & Samantha Higdon, Joseph Goss, Alexandria Goss, Christian Goss, Eva Mae Goss, Robert Heidemann, Samuel Heidemann, Eva Marie Heidemann, Charis Heidemann, Elizabeth Heidemann, Gary Heidemann, III, Edward Heidemann, Elijah Payne, Emanuel Payne, Micah Payne, Reese Payne, Lukas Vaught, Sophia Vaught, Oliver Vaught, Alex Payne, Spencer Payne, Raven Payne, and great-grand-daughter Lily Beth Higdon.  

Joey had a powerful singing voice and was an accomplished vocalist and published songwriter. As a soloist she sang in churches across the country, and as well as on mission trips abroad. Throughout her life she committed to use her voice to only sing songs that would glorify God. She kept this promise. She taught all of her sons to sing and harmonize, and has left a tremendous multi-generational legacy of music.  

In 1989 she took on the mantle of educating her children at home, a tradition that continues through many of her grandchildren. 

She was an active member of her broad faith community at Amazing Grace Fellowship, and St. Edward’s Catholic Church. Joey was passionate about unity in the Body of Christ and was a tremendous bridge-builder between peoples of faith. Kind to every stranger, she would go out of her way to meet ‘the least of these’ - the poor and destitute, the outcasts, the grieving and lost - and proactively share Christ’s love through generosity and prayer. She had a passion for sharing the message of the Gospel.  

Joey was an entrepreneur later in life. She was the owner of Eternal Zoe Design, LLC and created what was known at first as the ‘Zoe Necklace’, and later called ‘The Cross of the Trinity’. This piece of jewelry was inspired by a dream from the Lord, and is a visual representation of how the cross of Christ brings us into the life-giving love of the Trinity. It is distributed and sold nationwide as a beautiful and intriguing evangelism aid.  

Throughout her entire life her favorite pastimes were singing, playing board games with her family, and camping. She loved camping with her husband Thomas each year more than anything else. Her favorite place to enjoy God’s creation was Redfish Lake and all around the Stanley Basin. She loved bears, and never made a trip to Yellowstone National Park without getting to see one.  

She was a devoted and loving wife, a caring neighbor, and a true friend to all who knew her. She will always be remembered for the legacy of faith, kindness and music she shared with the world.  

Joey was preceded in death by her parents Rev. Leslie and Laura Lewis, her only sibling Rev. Larry Lewis, her first spouse Lari Goss, her second spouse Gary Heidemann, Sr., and many other precious friends and family members who now celebrate her heavenly homecoming. 

Her body is laid to rest in Sunset Memorial Park. 

A celebration of life will be held for her at Amazing Grace Fellowship on Saturday, February 24th at 11 a.m.