Tombstone Tuesday: Gladys M. Lane Schooler

Gladys Mayona Lane Schooler

Gladys Mayona Lane was the second child of William and Martha Pierce Lane.  Born on April 2, 1906, Aunt Gladie lived a wonderful 92 years before she passed away on January 15, 1999.  She is buried beside her husband, James A. Schooler, and their son, William J. Schooler, in Hurst Cemetery in Middlesboro, Kentucky.  Join me for my next few posts to find out more about this dear lady.

Headstone of Gladys Lane Schooler
Hurst Cemetery, Middlesboro, Kentucky

Tombstone Tuesday: M. Ruth Lane Williamson

Gravestone of Ruth Lane Williamson
Hurst Cemetery, Middlesboro, Kentucky
Photo taken c. 2004

As I'm sure you've guessed by now, the focus of my blog this week is my wonderful Aunt Ruth.  She developed Alzheimer's Disease in her later years, and her daughter, Betty Jo Williamson McManaway, brought  her to live with her at her home in Harrogate, Tennessee.  Aunt Ruth died on July 11, 1997, due to complications from Alzheimer's.  She is buried in the William B. Lane family plot in Hurst Cemetery in Middlesboro, Kentucky.

Tombstone Tuesday: Betty Jo Williamson McManaway

In my last post, I talked a bit about my cousin, Betty Jo Williamson McManaway. Today's post is a brief follow-up about her grave site which is located in Middlesboro, Kentucky.  Betty, who died in 2006, is buried in the William B. Lane family plot in Hurst Cemetery.  Her headstone, to be shared one day with her husband Michael, is located directly in front of the Lane family marker.

Headstone of Betty J. Williamson and her husband Michael McManaway

Detail of  Headstone (above)

Remembering Betty Jo Williamson McManaway

Betty Jo Williamson, c. 1947

Today my beautiful first cousin, Betty Jo Williamson McManaway, would have turned 71.  Like me, Betty Jo is the granddaughter of William B. and Martha Pierce Lane.  She's the daughter of M. Ruth Lane and Joe Williamson, the mother of Joy J. Goins Lewis and L. Joe Goins, and the grandmother of Megan Goins, Matthew Goins, and Olivia Johnson.

Born in Middlesboro, Kentucky, on January 13, 1942, Betty Jo spent most of her life in Bell County, Kentucky, and just over the mountain in Claiborne County, Tennessee.  Growing up, I always envied her gorgeous dark hair and lovely blue eyes.  It was always a joy to hear her laugh or to eat a meal that she cooked, and she was one of the hardest-working people I've known.  More than anything, though, I think Betty Jo loved being a mom to her two children and a grandmother to their children.  She died of a massive stroke on November 15, 2006, and is buried in the William B. Lane family plot in Middlesboro's Hurst Cemetery.

Betty Jo & Ruth Williamson
c. 1952

Betty Jo Williamson
c. 1960

Betty Jo W. McManaway & Joy Goins Lewis
2006

  

Tombstone Tuesday: William and Martha Lane

My grandparents, William Bowman Lane and Martha Ann Pierce Lane, are buried in Hurst Cemetery in my hometown of Middlesboro, Kentucky.  My mom, Betty Jewel Lane, the focus of my first couple of blog posts, was their youngest child.

Lane Family Tombstone, 2004

My grandmother died of a massive stroke in 1954, and was the first to be buried in this family plot.  My grandfather died in 1964 and was buried beside his wife of more than 50 years.

Martha Ann Lane's Headstone

My grandmother was seventy years old when she passed away.  Her children chose to have a verse from the 23rd Psalm (Granny's favorite) inscribed on her headstone:  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.

William B. Lane's Headstone

I'm not exactly sure how old my grandfather was when he died, but I'm fairly certain the birth date on his headstone is incorrect.  My Papaw, you see, was so eager to be like his big brother, Andy, and join the Army, that he lied about his age when he signed up for service.  He served proudly in the Spanish American War, and he would have been so pleased with his army-issued headstone.

To find out more about Hurst Cemetery, go to http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=74540.  Hurst Cemetery is located in front of and adjacent to the larger Middlesboro Cemetery.