Mrs. Vallena "Mickey" Payton, 95, of Morris, passed away peacefully Thursday afternoon, June 21, 2012 at Morris Hospital with her loving family by her side.

Born Feb. 16, 1917, in Litchfield, Ky., Vallena was the daughter of Charles and Naomi (Decker) Bradley. With her family, they moved to Northern Illinois during the Great Depression to make their home.

Vallena married the love of her life, Lawrence E. "Larry" Payton, on Oct. 10, 1937, at First Baptist Church in Morris. Shortly thereafter, he nicknamed her "Mickey," as she became known to most because she was tiny, like Mickey Mouse.