Robert Lane

Robert S. Lane, age 73, passed away on January 5, 2025, at his place of residence in Puryear, Tennessee. Bob was born in North Adams, Massachusetts on October 18, 1951, to Robert D. Lane and Nadene L. Foster Lane. He was raised in the small college town of Williamstown, MA, along with his three brothers, Dennis, Rick, and David. Bob always talked about his hometown and cherished his time there as a child and young adult.

Bob enrolled at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, MA, soon after high school and graduated from BCC with an associate degree. He then attended the University of Massachusetts for a year. During his time after high school, Bob had worked off and on as a carpenter and by the time he finished his first year at the University of Massachusetts, he had decided that carpentry was his first love. Bob pursued the building trades as his profession and he became a master carpenter over the course of his career, adept at both framing and detailed finish work. He moved to Tennessee with a fellow carpenter in 1979 to help build a home and he never left. 

While in Tennessee, he met and married Mary Margaret Ball and they moved to Camden in the western part of the state. They eventually landed in Paris where Bob practiced his craft for the majority of his professional career. He was skilled at creating beautiful things out of wood. Bob took great pride in his work. Bob and Mary were active members of First Presbyterian Church in Paris for many years.

Bob loved to play golf and competed in many tournaments in Tennessee and Kentucky. Golf and carpentry meshed nicely with his love of the outdoors. He made many good friends in his time golfing. He had a lifetime commitment to music, especially the blues, and he enjoyed singing and playing acoustic guitar. Bob had a beautiful singing voice and he enjoyed sitting outside on a nice day with his guitar and singing. Neil Young was most likely a favorite along with Joe Bonamassa, Jeff Beck, and many others. Bob had a great love of animals, adopting several stray cats and dogs through the years. Traveling, going to concerts, working in the yard, and most of all, spending time in his workshop sums up many of his interests.

Bob is survived by his two children, Meghann Lane of Jackson, TN and James Lane of California, three grandchildren Natalie Warlick, Noah Warlick and Eden Warlick all of Jackson, TN. He is also survived by Mary Margaret Ball Lane of McKenzie, TN, mother of his children; and his brothers Dennis Lane and his wife Kathy; Richard Lane and his wife Debra; and David Lane and his wife Pamela, all of Massachusetts; and his partner, Susan Powell of Puryear, TN.

Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap Street/ P.O. Box 788, Paris, TN, 38242, will be handling the arrangements. The body is to be cremated. A memorial visitation and service will be held at Ridgeway Funeral Home on January 18, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.