

Shirley A. Lane, 95, of Metamora, IL, died on July 12, 2025. Shirley was born on September 8, 1929, in Peoria, IL, the daughter of Dean Middleton and Ella R. Luther Middleton Petty. She graduated from Woodruff High School in 1947 and married George Engel in 1947. They had two children, Tom Engel, who passed in 1993, and Christine Epperley of Roanoke, VA. Shirley married Fred Swearinger in 1966, and they were together until he died in 1999. She married John Lane in 2001 and was by his side until he passed in 2018.
Shirley retired from Proctor Hospital after 22 years. Shirley loved to travel and traveled by RV with her husband, Fred, to most of the states including flying to Hawaii and finished all 50 states with John. She also traveled to Italy, Panama, Mexico, Canada, and The Bahamas. She was active when her children were growing up - a den mother for the Cub Scouts and cookie chairman for the Girl Scouts. Shirley was always active in her church and was a leader of the Ruth Circle in the United Methodist Women's Society of several years. She was active in her High School Alumni. Shirley loved bowling, reading, gardening, and photography. Surviving are her daughter Christine (Carl) Epperley, granddaughter Megan (Christopher) Mizak, grandson Jason (Melissa) Koehler all of Roanoke, VA; step-sons, Kenneth (Tammy) Lane of Morton, IL and Joe Hoelscher, of Peoria, IL; 8 step-grandchildren, 11 step-great grandchildren; as well as her dearly loved extended family, Mary Beth and Dennis Patterson, Stephanie and Ryan Jones, Noelle, Ava, and Cassie.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Bob Middleton of Seattle, WA, stepdaughter, Debra Hoelscher of Peoria, IL, and son-in-law, Gale Koehler of VA.
A funeral service will be held for Shirley on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 2pm at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel, with Pastor Gary Salm officiating. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Parkview cemetery. Memorials may be made in Shirley's memory to Christian Union Church in Metamora where Shirley was a member or to Snyder Villager Resident in Need Fund in Metamora.
DONATIONS
Christian Union Church
Snyder Villager Resident in Need Fund
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