FRONTENAC, Kan. — Jim and Marla Payne are celebrating 47 of years of keeping Payne’s Inc., a family business, always willing to give back to local school and children.

The Paynes are known for always donating to Frontenac events, especially those that affect the schools. They give to local booster clubs, baseball teams, Festa Italiana and community driven events like Frontenac Homecoming.

The couple want to ensure that the community continues to thrive.

Jim and Marla took over the business in 1990, when Jim Sr. retired. Jim Sr. started Payne’s with just the machine shop in 1979 and later expanded, adding a parts shop in 1983.

In the machine shop, Payne’s can service agricultural, automotive, and industrial needs. Their reach includes Southeast Kansas and extends to Southwest Missouri, Northeast Oklahoma, Northwest Arkansas and other neighboring states.

When they saw a need for towing, they decided to get into the wrecker business in 1985. Payne’s is an authorized ICC towing and wrecker service and will tow in 48 states. For many years, Marla said, they would travel all over the United States to haul broken down trucks. Marla said they would go to Dallas, Texas, and North Carolina among other states to retrieve large trucks. But now they only occasionally get a call to travel out of state.

Payne’s also offers storage space for customers’ convenience.

Jim and Marla pride themselves on providing customers with quality, speedy service as much as possible.

“We like bringing good service to people,” Marla said. “Because we’re very good on service and try to provide same day service.”

Payne’s Inc has created parts ranging from less than an inch to some that are several feet long and wide. The business primarily works with metals including mild steel, stainless steel, tool steel, aluminum, brass and copper.

While many people think Payne’s busiest season is winter, Marla said their business hardly ever has any slow times. Business is constant, she said.

Payne’s Inc employs 14 full-time individuals including welders, machinists and mechanics. Jim and Marla operate and manage the business side-by-side, taking turns completing a variety of tasks.

“We do so many different things, so it’s never boring,” Marla said. “Nothing monotonous, it's something different every day.”

Just as the business was passed on to Jim and Marla, the Paynes hope to continue to keep the business in the family once they retire.

This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.