Mary Darlene Lane

Mary Darlene (Wright) Lane, 73, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, passed away September 4, 2025. Darlene was born on November 14, 1951 , in Phoenix, Arizona, to Jesse James and Mary Clarie (Taylor) Wright. Darlene was 11 of 16 children born to this family. Darlene loved children, and when she could not work in the fields growing up, she would babysit her nieces and nephews or other children. Darlene was introduced to the love of her life, James Robert Lane, by her sister, Kathyrn, and her husband, Manford, who happened to be Robert's cousin. Darlene graduated from Porum High School in May of 1970, and on June 6, 1970, she and Robert were married. They made their home in Eufaula, where they built their first home on Airport Rd. Darlene was told she could not have children because of health reasons from an early age, but God knew differently, on March 29, 1972, Darlene gave birth to her and Robert's first child, a daughter, Jamie Louise. Then, on April 1, 1973, she gave birth to their son James Dorland, which would complete their family.

Darlene began working at the local sewing factory in Eufaula, which led to her making her children's clothing for many years, especially Jamie's, until she was in college. After a while, Darlene began working as a Dietary/Kitchen aide, at former Friendly Manor Nursing Home (now Lakeview Nursing & Rehab), under the administration of Paul Hamilton and Blackie Nixon, later she went to work for Checotah Manor Nursing Home around 1985 under the administration of Bud and Rosela Kelsoe. Later, under administration, Debbie Kelsoe continued to work for the Kelsoe family at both nursing homes in Checotah until they were sold in 2009, and she finally retired in 2013 after her daughter and son-in-law moved back to Oklahoma. Another reason for her retirement was that her first grandbaby, Mary Estella Lane, was born. In 2014, she worked as a housekeeper for EPIC Medical Hospital in Eufaula to keep herself busy until the hospital closed later that year, and then she would do some odd and end jobs to have "spending money." She was always cleaning her and Robert's house. Early mornings were her time. Before she would leave for work, she could be found reading her Bible and then, in the evenings, finishing where she left off that morning and making notes in her Bible(s). Darlene was a praying woman and loved to worship the Lord.

Darlene was a member of the Pentecostals of Eufaula Church. Darlene taught Sunday School and for a few years was the Church Secretary, but mostly a worshiper and altar worker. When her brother, Leon Wright, was pastoring The Longtown Apostolic Church, she attended and was again a Sunday School teacher and Church Secretary until her vision at night started getting bad, so she returned to the church where she raised her children, and that is The Pentecostals of Eufaula. She had attended The Apostolic Church of Eufaula for a short time and would still participate in The Pentecostals of Eufaula when she could. Up to the time of her passing, she loved the old gospel hymns and worshiping the Lord, especially when her church family, The Pentecostals of Eufaula, would come and sing.

Dementia/Alzheimer's took a lot from her, but not the presence of the Lord that was instilled inside her heart and mind for many years. When dementia started getting bad in 2021, and in November 2021, Darlene's husband had to make one of the most difficult decisions of his life, and that was to place Darlene in a Lakeview Nursing & Rehab Facility because he could not care for her any longer. The cancer had returned to his body. When she first became a resident, she would try to work in the kitchen, attend staff meetings, sign the employee attendance sheet, and even try to help the nursing staff do their jobs or paperwork. Many nurses knew Darlene when she became a resident of Lakeview because they had worked with her when she worked in Checotah, and it broke their hearts to see what dementia had done to her mind. The staff and administration at Lakeview Nursing & Rehab were caring, patient, and even supportive of her daughter when decisions were made on Darlene's behalf. When the time came to place her in hospice care, both Lakeview Nursing and Complete OK Hospice took great care of Darlene in the last months of her life.

Preceding Darlene in death were her husband James Robert Lane (April 2024), her parents Jesse and Claire Wright, Brothers Eldon Wright, Leon Wright, Jay Wright, James Wright, Joe Wright, Johnny Wright, David Wright, Bobby Wright, Jimmy Don Wright, and a baby Sister Carolyn Wright and several nieces and nephews and a brother in law Ray Dill. Leaving behind to cherish her memory are her daughter Jamie Louise Fears and husband Robert of Eufaula, son James Dorland Lane and wife Tamara of Eufaula, grandchildren Hunter Fears of Billings, Vermont, and Mary Lane of Eufaula. Special nieces she was lovingly known as "Granny" to that she and Robert had a part raising Kirsten Stout and Kimberly Mullins. Her siblings are 1 brother, Stephen and Roberta Wright of Porum, and 4 sisters Joyce and John Johnson of Eufaula, Charlotte Dill of Porum, Kathyrn Barnes of Porum, and Wanda and Frank Johnston of Siloam Springs, AR. Brothers and sisters-in-law: Jack and Kelli Lane of Onapa, Walter "Diggem" and Debbie Lane of Onapa, Bobby Lane of Soper, Lois and Lee Walters of Harrah, Patricia and Randy Fritz of Checotah, and Jennifer and K. D. Thomason of Celeste, TX, Linda Wright of Porum, Karen Wright of Porum, Connie Wright of Porum, Mary Jo Wright of Porum, and Juanita Wright of Porum. Also, a host of nieces and nephews.

She made her calling and election sure. She fought a good fight and kept the faith. She has finished her course, and now she is resting in the arms of Jesus, free of any pain and suffering, and her mind has been made new.

A special thank you goes to Lakeview Nursing Home and Complete OK Hospice for all the love and care given to Darlene.