Mary Lou Turner Lane

Mary Louise Turner Lane went to her heavenly home on July 1, 2017 at the age of 80.

A native of Brownsville, TN, Mary Lou was born to the late Nathan Edward and Martha Eppes McConnico Turner on December 12, 1936. 

In 1957, Mary Lou married Roy Houston Lane, Jr. They raised three boys, Tripp, Taylor and Eagle, in Memphis, TN before moving back to Mary Lou’s hometown of Brownsville. When Roy retired, he built their dream home on Mt. Nebo in Dardanelle, AR.  Shortly after completion, Roy passed away but Mary Lou chose to stay on Mt. Nebo until health issues necessitated her return to Brownsville.

She attended the University of Memphis, graduating with a B.S. in Health and Social Services,  a M.S. in Community Health Administration and Education and an Ed. D in Special Education.

Mary Lou had a very prolific career positively impacting many lives that began with the Memphis Park Commission as the Administrator for the Summer Youth Employment Program. From there she went on to work at the Southeast Mental Health Center in Memphis as the Director of Day Treatment and Community Services. Mary Lou used the knowledge gained in this position to transition into a career in Special Education where she worked as the Administrative Assistant to the University of Memphis Special Education Department Chair. She also was an adjunct instructor for Special Education at University of Memphis and Christian Brothers University.  Then an opportunity arose for her to become the Manager of Special Services and Director of Mobile Services for the STAR Center (West TN Specialty Technology Access and Resource Center) in Jackson, TN. While at STAR, Mary Lou co-wrote the grant and directed the program for the Mobile Access Express, a 42 foot mobile technology lab.  Mary Lou then transitioned into a position with West TN Brain Resource and Information Network in Memphis where she trained school personnel on how to provide assistance to students with traumatic brain injuries. When Mary Lou moved with her husband to Dardanelle, AR, she  finished her career with the Dardanelle Public School District as the Alternative Learning Education Director retiring in January 2017 at the age of 80.

In addition to a fruitful career, Mary Lou also was very active in her community. While her children were in school, she served as both the Knight Road and Memphis City presidents of the PTA. She was a graduate of the Leadership Memphis, Leadership Haywood County and West Star programs in TN. In AR, Mary Lou served as Secretary for the Yell County Wildlife Federation, Volunteered for the Work Force program in Russellville, participated in the AR Timber Association and served on the Board for the AR Association of Alternative Learning Educators and the AR Wildlife Federation Board.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Lane, Jr. and survived by her brother, Ned Turner and his wife Carol of Marianna, AR; three sons, Tripp Lane and his wife Linda and Taylor Lane all of Dardanelle, AR and Eagle Lane and his wife Natalie of Brownsville, TN. She also leaves behind three grandchildren, Frances, Louise and Bennett Lane as well as several beloved nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be conducted at Tabernacle United Methodist Church, 3000 Tabernacle Road, Brownsville, TN on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at 2:00 PM with Brother Mike Hutcherson and Dr. Joe Thornton officiating.  Interment followed in the church cemetery.  Memorial Services will be held in Dardanelle, AR at 2:00 PM on Sunday, July 23, 2017 at the Yell County Wildlife Federation Building, 10035 Wildlife Lane, Dardanelle, AR 72834.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tabernacle UMC Cemetery Fund, c/o Betsy Thornton, 57 Old Hwy 19, Brownsville, TN 38012 or Yell County Wildlife  Federation, c/o James Manatt, P.O. Box 508, Dardanelle, AR, 72834. Services are under the direction of Lea and Simmons Funeral Home, Brownsville, TN, 731-772-8880.