Ruth Evelyn Lane

She is survived by her daughters, Judy Lane Mikesell (Phil) of Nashville, Tennessee, and Carol Lane Herring (Mark) of Rock Hill, South Carolina. She leaves behind four grandchildren (Adriel Herring Slaughter, Areli Herring Keeney, Katy Mikesell Tate, and Matthew Mikesell) and six great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Lillard Watson Lane Jr.

Ruth was born on December 16, 1923, in Waynesville, North Carolina. She graduated from Waynesville High School where she played on the state championship basketball team. Her desire to serve others led her to Nashville General Hospital where she graduated as a US Cadet Nurse. She remained active in the NGH Alumni Association. Her career included work in various fields of nursing, from hospital to industrial at Aladdin Industries and Davis Cabinet Company of Nashville, Tennessee. For the last forty years of her professional career, Ruth continued her commitment of service to others as a distributor, supervisor, and educator for Shaklee Corporation, a natural vitamin and food supplement company.

She married Lillard Lane in 1948, and lived the rest of her life in Donelson, Tennessee. Always active in the community, she was honored as Donelson's Outstanding Young Woman of the year in 1957 after she established a well-baby clinic for the community. Because of her love for children and devout faith, she taught Child Evangelism classes and continued to support the organization for the remainder of her life. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Nashville where she taught high school students at Tennessee Preparatory School through the church program there. Her devotion and love for these young girls went beyond the Sunday School class as she assisted several after graduation even bringing them to her home until they had found jobs and places to live.

Additionally, Ruth traveled extensively, often with the Christian Business and Professional Women's Club. Her love for travel took her to a dozen or more countries, including Israel, Australia, Egypt, Thailand, South Korea, many European countries and most of the United States. But her love of work was in the Lord. She was "his servant as a flame of fire" (Psalm 104:4). Truly, she served the Lord with gladness and humility.

The family would like to express our deepest appreciation to the staff of Maybelle Carter Senior Living Facility for the tender loving kindness during the time Ruth lived there.

A celebration of her life will be held at First Baptist Church of Nashville (108 7th Avenue South) on Saturday, March 9. Her family will receive visitors from 10-11:30 a.m. with the service to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship (3210 McGavock Pike, Nashville, Tennessee 37214) or Alive Hospice (1718 Patterson Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37203).