Fred Lane

On Thursday, October 28, 2021, the Lane family lost their hero. After months of declining health, Frederick DeShong Lane died peacefully at home with his beloved family by his side.

Services will be held Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 2:00 P.M. at Hampton Vaughan Crestview chapel with Rev. T.L. Wilborn and Rev. Rick Mitchell officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Monday, November 1, 2021.

Fred was born July 11, 1933 in Wichita Falls, Texas to Clark Edward Lane and Virginia Mae Davis. The fourth of five sons, Fred didn’t have the opportunity for much formal education (only completing the tenth grade); however, he later studied for and received his GED and then obtained a nursing home administrator’s license. He inherited his strong work ethic from his mother making her proud of his administrative skills and his desire to exponentially grow the family nursing home business. Fred married Barbara Jean Hollis on July 16, 1954 and they were blessed to enjoy 67 years together! He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather!

If you asked a hundred people who Frederick DeShong Lane was, they’d all give you a different story. Some would recall a young man that worked in the warehouse at White’s Auto Store during the week but on the weekends served in the National Guard of Texas with the military occupation as a photo interpreter and a cook.

Others may remember a story of him and his buddies purchasing a yellow school bus and renovating it into what everyone now called a “tiny home” with bunk bed and a kitchen so that a few good men could travel to Colorado for some hunting and fellowship. Fred was always so excited for these trips.

Some would know him as a man who loved the outdoors, raising cows, planting gardens, plowing, planting & harvesting feed for his beloved animals, riding horses and tending to all the other chores of farming the Rifle Range Road home and acreage for 30 years.

A lot of people would likely have a story about Fred’s 47 years as a nursing home administrator, many of those years as an owner of Lane’s Nursing Home.

Most will remember Fred to be a loving, kind, giving individual that sowed seeds in God’s Kingdom, stepping up to take care of others. The Gift of Giving was definitely Fred’s Gift.

In the event you aren’t personally acquainted with Fred, here is a writing from one of his granddaughters:

You were a lovely man. You were someone who was the perfect amount of stubborn, hardheaded and particular as well as loving, kind and funny! These are all common ingredients amongst the Lanes’ but you had just perfected the right amount of each.

I remember you as so many things. I loved that you were “squirrley” and goofy. You loved to scare people with rubber snakes and even went as far as putting panty hoses and lipstick on your face to scare me and my friends at my birthday party! You loved a good laugh. I miss that laugh. You were a knee slapper.

You were a particular man which I respect. You’d send chips back at any restaurant if they weren’t hot out of the oven. You loved your biscuits with peanut butter and honey mixture. You loved anything sweet and a Coca Cola. My love for floats comes from you. You always had to have your handkerchief on you, ironed and folded. You liked the front door, open or closed. Not revolving or left open letting all the heat/air out. All your grandkids can recall you saying, “in or out.”

You were someone who influenced who I am. You taught me how to shoot my first pistol and how to drive in reverse when I was a little girl. You told me you were the fastest drawer in the world. And I believed you for a very long time. You unknowingly are one of the reasons I love Christmas so much. You’d walk around with your gigantic recorder “taping” all the joys of Christmas Day.

But, my favorite thing about you is the way you loved. I watched you love your family (your mama, brothers, wife, kids, grandkids, great grandkids and even strangers) your entire life. Thank you for being a great daddy to my mama. Thank you for being a great husband to my nana. Thank you for being a great Papa to me. Thank you for being that example for me.

May you Rest In Peace. You left a huge impact here. You will be missed always. I love you Papa.

Pallbearers are Brady Lane, Brandon Lane, Dalton Lane, Jr., Todd Lane, Justin Morath, Tucker Morath and Cameron Ward.

Fred is preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Diane, his brothers, Clark, Howard, Jack, Dalton and his sister, Lillie.

Fred is survived by his wife, Barbara; his children, Steve Lane and wife, D’Lynn, Mike Lane and wife, Cindy, Lisa White and husband, Harold; his Grandchildren, Stephanie, Brandon, Brady, Kristen, Justin, Lauren and Kelsey and his great-grandchildren, Kylan, Tucker, Kinslee, Emerson, Lakely, Lane and Valerie and his best friend, Benji.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Ashvin Patel, Sandy and the entire staff at Fresenius Kidney Care and Lindsey, Heather and the entire staff at Hospice Plus. You all have been amazing to our Fred with extending care and emotional support during this time and it is greatly appreciated.