Obituary for Franklin “Frank” Payne
Franklin Roy Payne was born January 31, 1939, in Trinidad, Colorado to George and Dollie Payne. He
attended Aguilar High School, working several jobs before beginning his railroad career with Santa Fe
Railroad in June of 1959. From 1962 to 1963 he served his country in the Army, then returning home to
his career with the railroad, retiring in January 2001 as a Locomotive Engineer with BNSF.
In 1972, Frank married Rose Marie Pugnetti, and they raised three children, Edward, Sherri and Franklin.
Frank enjoyed bowling with Rose, meeting friends daily for coffee at McDonalds and attending mass
regularly as a member of the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Aguilar. He was always working by doing
work around the house or in the yard, helping his children in their business ventures but he mainly
enjoyed spending time with his family.
Frank passed away on October 18, 2023, in Pueblo, Colorado and is preceded in death by his parents,
George and Dollie, brothers, George Elmer, John Allen, James, sister Karen Wark, and brother-in-law
Angelo Pugnetti.
He is survived by his loving wife of fifty-one years Rose, his children Sherri (Jarred) Wilson, Franklin,
Edward (Shanah) Pugnetti, sisters Marian Roscoe, and Lorraine Shinn; grandchildren, Marino and Angelo
(McKenna) Pugnetti, brother-in-law Charles Pugnetti, sisters-in-law Esther Pugnetti, Minnie Payne, Velda
Payne and numerous nieces and nephews.