HARTFORD, Ky. — Nicolas “Nic” Thomas Payne, 25, of Hartford, passed away on Friday, March 14, 2025, at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital due to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. He was born on Aug. 16, 1999, in Owensboro, Kentucky, to Thomas “Tom” Payne and Cynthia “Cindy” Mattingly Payne.
Nic worked as a Zyn mechanic for Swedish Match. He enjoyed gardening, tending to his farm atop his John Deere tractor, and wrangling his ever-escaping pigs and cattle: Wooly Bully, Reba, Dolly, Jolene, and his wild mustang, Titan. Nic was a beautiful, carefree spirit with an old, gentle soul. An avid outdoorsman, he loved adventure and travel in his prized old F-150. He had a love for physical fitness, was a talented artist, enjoyed sharing his love for cooking, and “shredding the gnar” (as he called playing his guitar).
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Linda Mattingly.
He is survived by his parents, Tom and Cindy Payne, of South Dakota; his cherished and adoring sister, Chelsie Payne, of Colorado; cousin and best friend, Nathaniel Floyd, of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky; paternal grandparents, David Joe and Pat Payne, of Knottsville, Kentucky; maternal grandfather, David O. Mattingly, of Philpot, Kentucky; aunts, Lisa (Tracy) Floyd, of Lawrenceburg, Amy (Travis) Higdon, of Philpot, Becky (Larry) McCubbins, of Owensboro, and Julie (Holger) Jensen, of Philpot; uncles, Michael (Meredith) Payne, of Colorado, and John Mattingly, of Philpot; cousins, Carolyn (Joshua) Snell, Becca and Emily Higdon, Kristen (Ryan) Bumm, Morgan (Dylon) Cecil, Brandon (Chelsea) Mattingly, Brittany (Clay) Mulligan, and Ally Mattingly. He also leaves behind many close friends, his Zyn Mechanical crew, other coworkers, and many heartbroken women on Tinder.
In lieu of monetary donations, the family requests you follow Nic’s mantra: YOLO (You Only Live Once). So, make the most of it.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, at James H. Davis Funeral Home and Crematory. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday with prayers at 7 p.m. Visitation will also be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Private burial will be held at Payne Family Cemetery at a later date.
