Wayne Elliott

July 25, 1935 - April 1, 2020

Wayne Elliott, 84, died April 1, 2020 at his home in Polk, Missouri. Wayne was born July 25, 1935 to Thurman and Jewell (Butler) on their farm near Huron, Missouri. In 1954 he joined the United States Air Force and served four years. On May 24, 1958 he married his long time sweetheart, Mary Jane Payne of Polk, Missouri. (A union that lasted nearly 62 years.) After finishing his enlistment, Wayne was accepted at the DeVry Institute of Technology, where he received the training that would lead to his career-long job with the Lockheed Corporation’s sites at Vandenburg Air Force Base in Lompoc, California, and their facility in Sunnyvale, California. Their daughter, Susan was born in 1962 in Santa Maria, California, followed by their son, Gregory in 1964. After twelve years, Wayne’s job required him to move the family for the second half of his career in Sunnyvale. Wayne and Mary Jane decided on Fremont, California, where they resided for twenty years. Upon retirement, they achieved their dream of returning to Polk County Missouri and building a house on the land left to them by Mary Jane’s Father. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Thurman and Jewell Elliott and his brother, Vernice Roy, sister Artie Mary, brother Charley Thurman, and sister Eva Darlene (Zlab). He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane, daughter Susan Goodwin (David), son Gregory Elliott (Malinda), 4 Grandchildren and 4 Great Grandchildren. There will be a viewing at Butler Funeral Home on April 6 from 8 a.m. until noon. A private family funeral will follow at Payne Cemetery in Polk. A Memorial Service is being planned when the prevailing warnings are lifted.