Lloyd Payton was born on June 24, 1933, and grew up in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. After college he served in the United States Air Force, including service in the air police while stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio and in Tucson. Following his discharge, he returned to Oklahoma and initially lived in the Tulsa area before beginning his legal education.
Payton attended Oklahoma A&M in Stillwater before enrolling at the University of Tulsa College of Law. He graduated from the University of Tulsa with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1961, completing the legal education that preceded his move to Muskogee and the beginning of his long practice there.
After completing his law degree in 1961, Payton moved to Muskogee and briefly worked in the Muskogee County Attorney's Office. He then entered private practice, where he spent more than 47 years representing clients in personal injury, workers' compensation, family law and criminal law matters. His practice was associated with the Payton Law Firm and Payton Law Office at 417 West Broadway in Muskogee. In 1995 he joined the Social Security Administration, where he remained employed until his death while continuing his longstanding professional association with the Muskogee legal community.
Payton belonged to the Scottish Rite Masons and attained the 32nd degree. He was also a Shriner, reflecting his participation in Masonic and fraternal organizations in addition to his legal work.
Payton was the father of Oklahoma lawyer and judge Jeffrey J. Payton, with whom he practiced at the Payton Law Firm in Muskogee. He was married to Ersel Ford Payton.
