Payton Scott Tenney

Although he was taken from his loved ones much too soon, Payton Tenney touched the lives of so many in his brief time here. He was loving and compassionate with a servants heart that touched so many others. Payton was a loving son and brother who had a special place in his heart for children - perhaps because he was still such a kid at heart. With his outgoing and fun-loving personality, he was a friend to many, and he wasnt one who needed the spotlight as Payton mastered what it means to be a team player. Life will never be the same without him here, but he leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that his loved ones will forever hold near and dear to their hearts.

By the year 2003, the buzz about Y2K was long gone, and people were back to life as normal. Finding Nemo, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and The Matrix Reloaded brought us to the movie theater while JK Rowlings fifth Harry Potter book was released. This same year was a year to remember in the lives of Richard and Ann (Earnhart) Tenney as they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child as March unfolded in Columbia City, Indiana. Their wait was over on March 22nd when the baby boy they named Payton Scott drew his first breath at Dupont Hospital in Ft. Wayne. He was the older of two sons born to his parents as he was joined in his family by his younger brother, Owen. Paytons life was later enriched with his two more siblings, Zizi and Briggs.

In many ways Payton was a young boy of his generation. He enjoyed riding bikes, spending time with his grandpas, playing baseball, playing video games and shooting air-soft guns with his friends. He truly enjoyed being involved with his youth group at Broadway Christian Church in Ft. Wayne. This past summer he finished up his first mission trip as he traveled to an Indian Reservation in Arizona. As a student Payton attended preschool at First Church of God and then went on to Northern Heights Elementary School. He was currently an 8th grader at Indian Springs Middle School where he also played basketball. Payton always enjoyed golf, either playing with his mom or heading to Magic Hills Golf Course to play a round with his friends. Payton loved visiting Chicago, going hunting and fishing, and watching shows like American Pickers, Bear Grylls, the creator of Man vs. Wild and the show his dad introduced him to when Rich was younger, MacGyver. Christmas was always a special time of the year for Payton as he enjoyed looking at all the decorations.

There was never anything of greater importance in Payton than his loved ones. With a love for children he enjoyed spending time with his brothers and sisters. Payton was a hard worker who liked working on his grandpas farm, and just recently he learned to drive one of the farm trucks. He also enjoyed mowing with the zero-turn mower so much that he would regularly ask if the lawn was ready for him to mow again. With his mom he loved doing things like golfing and running in some races including the Monster Dash 5k when he dressed up as Boba Fett, the bounty hunter from Star Wars and the Rat Race dressed as Darth Vader. Payton enjoyed watching MacGyver and Bears football with his father and was looking forward to going to watch them play at Soldier Field in December.

Quiet, loving, and gentle, Payton Tenney was such an extraordinary young man. He was intuitive and sensitive to the needs and feelings of those around him, and his love for his family was easy to see. Payton was a friend to many and so much fun to be around as he had an approachable and genuine demeanor that drew others near. Deeply loved, he will be forever missed.

Payton Scott Tenney, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away Sunday, October 2, 2016. Paytons family includes his mom, Ann Earnhart-Tenney of Columbia City; dad and step-mom, Rich and Shannon Tenney of Fort Wayne; brothers, Owen Tenney and Briggs Tenney ; sister, Zizi Tenney; grandparents, Judy Earnhart of South Whitley, N. Fay and Suzanne Earnhart, of Kimmell, Robert and Georgia Tenney, of Pierceton and Vince and Marcia Campbell, of Ft. Wayne; great-grandparents, Kap Becker, of Houston, Texas, Ralph Thomas, of Fort Wayne, Rosemary Piebenga, of South Whitley, Lois Dufendach, of Fort Wayne, and John and Mary Campbell, of Fort Wayne; uncles and aunts, James Tenney, Leslie and Troy Stapleton and Candice and Brandon Campbell; and numerous cousins. Payton was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Woodrow and Goldie Tenney, Richard Becker, Edwina Thomas, Owen C. and Kathryn Earnhart, Bernard Piebenga and Tom Dufendach.

Visitation is 2-7 p.m. Wednesday, October 5, 2016, at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at First Church of God, 1200 Depoy Dr., Columbia City with visitation one hour prior. Pastor Ryan Cochran of Broadway Christian Church will be officiating. Burial will follow at Sparta Cemetery where he will be laid to rest by his great-grandparents, Owen and Kathryn Earnhart. In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials may be made in Paytons memory to Broadway Christian Churchs youth group program. To send Paytons family condolences, visit www.demoneygrimes.com .