On Saturday, August 17th, Keith Payne, a husband, coach, father, and teacher passed away unexpectedly in his home due to a heart attack.

He is survived by his wife, Rachel Payne, his son, Ben Payne, his daughter, Anna Payne, his father, Harry Payne, and his siblings (Kim, Kevin, and Kenneth Payne). He was proceeded in death by his mother, Judith Tesner Payne.

Keith earned his first Masters degree in special education, and his second Masters in School Administration from Western Carolina University. Over his career, he taught all ages in subjects including special education, history, and physical education. Keith was a father, a friend, and a mentor to everyone who crossed his path. Keith was a man of many passions. He loved music and made sure to stay up to date on Taylor Swift so he could be the cool dad. He loved to refer to himself as a viking. He enjoyed reading and writing fantasy books. He loved to learn and teach about his findings. He loved to run trails and observe the beauty of the world around him. He enjoyed exploring the wonders of America’s National Parks with his family. His favorite places on Earth included Glacier National Park, Yosemite National Park, and the Badlands in South Dakota. One of Keith’s wishes was to have his ashes scattered amongst the trails and lakes of these parks.

Between Swain and Murphy Keith was the 17 time Smoky Mountain Conference Coach of the Year. He was the Head Coach of five state championship teams and coached on 13 state championship teams including 10 straight girls running program titles at Swain and the 2024 Boys Outdoor State Championship team. In addition to his years of teaching and coaching at Swain county, he worked as a teacher, assistant principal, and coach at Cherokee County Schools. Keith devoted his life to leading others to success. He held an immense amount of pride in his athletes, friends, and family in everything they did. The world was a better place with him in it. He will be missed.