Service Details
A homegoing celebration will be held on Saturday, January 4 at 11:30 a.m. at Draeger-Langdorf (4600 County Line Rd, Mt Pleasant, WI), with Reverend Weldon Williams Jr. officiating. Interment will follow at Graceland Cemetery. A viewing will be held at the funeral home from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2025.
Live Stream Link: https://youtube.com/live/vBBcSdgsi6U?feature=share
Memorial Suggestions
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America or Dementia Society of America in Mary Jean Lane’s memory.
Mrs. Mary Jean Lane (née Pryor), age 85, peacefully transitioned into eternal rest on December 21, 2024, at Kenosha Place Memory Care Center. She was born on April 17, 1939, in Mayfield, Kentucky, to the late Augustus George Pryor and Johnie Mae Cooper (née Walker).
In the early 1950’s Mary relocated with her family from Mayfield, KY to Racine WI. She attended Washington Middle School and graduated from Washington Park High in 1956. Mary attended Kentucky State University in Frankfort, KY. She returned to Racine to be with her immediate family.
Mary met Edward Keith Lane through her best friend, Karen R. Myers (née Lane). Their relationship grew into a loving partnership, and marriage on June 6, 1959. They shared over 24 years of love, and marriage before Keith’s untimely death in March 1984. Mary was employed at Ridgewood Care Center, formerly High Ridge Hospital, for over 15 years before relocating to Atlanta with Keith in 1979. Mary worked at Davison/Macy’s until she retired in 1998 to move back to Racine and care for her mother. Mary had a strong work ethic and could not stay still for long. While caring for her mother she worked part-time at Hob Nob Restaurant for 30 years.
Mary was deeply passionate about her husband Keith, daughters April and Tracy. One of her greatest joys was spending time with and nurturing her grandchildren. She always wanted each moment to be a meaningful and teachable moment that would stay with them for life. One of her greatest joys was to spend time with them and help nurture their personalities. She enjoyed music, dancing, watching murder mysteries and British comedies. She found peace and joy in serving God at St. Nicholas Episcopal and St. Luke Episcopal churches and reading her devotional books.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband Edward Keith Lane; her parents; Johnie Mae (Walker) Cooper; Augustus George Pryor; stepfather Homer Cooper; brother, A. G. Pryor; special cousin James Lee Orr; and dear aunts, Effie LaVerne Carmen; Grace Evelyn (Clute) Walker and uncle Hules Clint (Bubba) Walker. Six brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law, her dear childhood friend, Emily Hayes and a host of special friends who preceded her.
She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, April (Derrick) Polk (Racine WI) and Tracy (Craig) Hall (Jonesboro GA); grandchildren, Siobhan Aliss Polk (Nashville TN), Demetrius Hall Polk (Nashville TN), Aris Lane Hall (Eugene, OR), Alexander Keith Hall (Jonesboro GA), Andrew Edward (Demetria) Hall (Atlanta GA); five great-grandchildren, Kaleil Javelle Hall, Zayah Alexandria Hall, Zuri Monae’ Hall, Ayana Michelle Hall, Allen Mark Keith Hall; Special cousin, Carolyn LaVerne Hale; Great-cousins, Nigel Bryant (Erika), Stephanie Hale; Megan Orr Landgren (Joe); Lori Orr-Hadley (Dennis), Shanna Orr Sabol (John); and sisters-in-law, Karen Rosezina Myers (née Lane), Brenda Louise Theus (née Lane) and Sandra Lee Trott (née Lane); brother-in-law Floyd Eugene Theus; along with a host of nieces, nephews, great-great cousins and dear childhood friend, Mary Lee Vaughn.
Cousin Carolyn Orr-Hale says
My deepest sympathy and prayers to Tracy, April and all the Family. Love y’all. Trust in the Lord and HE will see you through this difficult time.
Carol Massey, Humble, TX says
Rest well my sweet friend. So grateful for our conversations. I loved your soft voice. Blessings and Comfort for your family.
Carol Massey, Humble, TX says
Rest well my friend. I will miss your sweet voice. Comfort and peace to your family. Cherish your memories.
Mary L . Vaughn says
My dear childhood friend. I am going to miss our long telephone conversations about the good life we had growing up . You added to my family as a second sister . The empty space that I feel in my heart will be filled with tears but I know God was in the plan . Your friend forever.
April Lane - Polk says
We will deeply miss our grandmother mom great mom. Love you
Debra Turner & Family says
Tracey and April I give my deepest condolences to the family. I’m so sorry for ya’ll loss. May she rest in Paradise. 🙏🏽🙏🏽❤️❤️🙏🏽🙏🏽
Icelene Wilson says
My Heartfelt Condolences to the Family Praying for you 🙏 ❤️
Aletha Kimmons Slaughter Family says
To the family, sincere condolences. Praying for you all
Your former neighbor
Anonymous says
Tracey and April we are sending our condolences 💐 to you and your families over the loss of your mother from James Billingsley and family. May she be with your father and other family members in heaven. Rest in peace.
Louis & Ella Wilson says
Tracy, from Ella and me. We offer our deepest and sincere condolences. Given the conversations we have had over the years you can be comforted.
I know you, I have seen your Moms fruit. I know the faithfulness of the Lord. He is saying to your Mom come My child. Well done My good and faithful servant🙏❤️
Buddy Smith says
To: Derrick, April, and family:
May God comfort you during this difficult time.
Love, Buddy and Joyce Smith,
Atlanta, GA
Connie Stewart Davis says
So sorry to hear about Mary’s passing. Her mom ms Johnnie mae and my mom bernestine were best friends for years. My sympathy to the family.
Doris Jones says
April and Tracy, my sincere condolences in the lose of your mother. May she rest in God’s hands, for now she is healed. You Ioved her, but God loved her more. She fought a good fight. She has finished her course.
Rodney Mccoy Sr. U.K. says
My Condolences to the Lane Family.
Sharon Shelton Williams says
Prayers go out from the Shelton Family
Cherri Barker-Chambliss says
My condolences to the family.
Your cousin, Stephanie S. Hale says
To my dear cousins April, Tracy and family! Mary Jean was a special lady. She touched a lot of lives during her journey on earth! Her presence will be missed, but remember that earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal. Continue to walk the balance of this life’s journey going in the strength of the LORD! Continuously covering you all in prayer!
Corliss Sosniak says
I will miss you SO much Mary and I will always remember you as that Earth Angel that touched a lot of lives.
You raised two beautiful daughters, April and Tracy; and I am proud of the wonderful women they have become.
You are in God’s home now where I know you and I will someday meet, again, to give a welcome hug and share talks of those precious times we spent together.
Love to you and the rest of the family.
Elaine (Stone) Johnson says
April and Tracy – Sending comfort, prayers and my love.
May you find peace in knowing your mother is resting in the hands of the Lord and re-united eternally with your dad. And, among other loved ones and close friends including my dad and stepmom, Clarence and Sadie Stone.
I’ll always cherish our childhood memories and appreciate the love your mom and dad always extended to me.
God bless you both,
Love Elaine
Will Beadles (Jr.) says
To the Lane family so sorry for your loss. My family also relocated from KY. about the same time. The families were pretty good friends back in the day. Mary was about the same age as my older sister, I was just a little younger than AG. I always looked up to both of them. Mary was always a pretty classy lady. May she Rest in peace.
Demetrius powell says
So sorry for your loss of your Mother Traci April may God give the Grace to endure this difficult time in your life
Sandra Beauford-Asoro says
To April and Tracy -I am sending my sincere condolences from Atlanta Ga. I am sorry for the loss of your mother. All of you are like family to me. You and your family will always be in my prayers.
April Lane - Polk says
I like to say thank you to everyone who left messages. Thank you.