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.

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.