SOUTH CHINA - Clarence Howard ?Sonny? Payson, Jr., 65, formerly of Readfield, died unexpectedly on Monday, November 27th, 2006 at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta. He was born in Hallowell on August 5th, 1941, the son of the late Clarence Howard, Sr. and Margaret (Laflin) Payson. Sonny grew up in the Dresden- Hallowell area, graduating from Bridge Academy. Following graduation, he served 8 ? years with the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War before being disabled and honorably discharged. He purchased a farm in Readfield in 1969 and made his living, with all his animals, farming. On June 24th, 1978 he married Janice Williams in Readfield. Soon after, they converted their farm into Sonny?s Seafood, which they owned and operated until his retirement in August of this year. Sonny enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, playing poker, and a genuine interest in old cars. He loved listening to Bluegrass and looked forward to his Bluegrass get-togethers he often planned for others who enjoyed his genre of music. Sonny was predeceased by two sons, Clarence Payson III and Frank Payson. He is survived by his wife, Janice, of S. China; two sons, Floyd Frost & his wife, Tammi, of Augusta and Brian Frost & his wife, Jennifer Locke, of Fayette; one daughter, Margaret McBride & her husband, Senator David McBride, of Dover, Delaware; one sister, Margaret Ridley & her husband, John, of Lisbon; eleven grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Relatives and friends are invited to visit from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30th, at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop. A committal service with full military honors will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Friday in the chapel at the old Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Civic Center Drive in Augusta. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sonny?s memory may be made to the China Rescue, c/o Danny Mckinnis, 168 Waterville Road, China, ME 04358.