Carolyn McKee Payne

Carolyn Belote McKee Payne passed away on January 10, 2019 after a brief illness. She was 90 years old. A long-time resident of Venice, FL, Carolyn was born in Marianna, AR, and spent most of her life in Gallatin, TN. Carolyn and her first husband Jack C. McKee were entrepreneurs and at the time of Jack's death in 1966, the couple had founded and was operating Drift-R-Cruz, the world's first ski-pulling, fiberglass houseboat company. In just a few short years, the company was selling more houseboats than any other manufacturer in the world. Following her husband's death, Carolyn ran the company for a number of years, before selling it. She went on to be a successful cattle farmer with second husband, Charles W. Payne. Carolyn is survived by her children, John Belote McKee (Lynette), Mary Ruth McKee Hunt (Scott), and stepson Bill Payne; grandchildren Jason Randolph McKee (Morgan) and Duncan McKee Paynter (Sarah); great grandchildren Paxton, Camden, Lincoln, Claire, and Josephine; and brother Malone Belote. She is predeceased by her husbands, parents Jere and Ruth Sterling Belote, and brothers Frank Belote and Sam Belote. A celebration of Carolyn's life will take place Saturday, January 12 at 4:00 p.m. at the club house at Island Shores Condominiums, 550 W. Flamingo Dr., Venice. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that expressions of sympathy be made to the Special Olympics of Kentucky, 105 Lakeview Ct., Frankfort, KY 40601 or to Centre College, 600 W. Walnut Street, Danville, KY 40422.