James Clinton Lane joined his Great Heavenly Reunion at the age of 96 years, 3 months and 25 days on April 11, 2015. Lucky Heaven!

Born to Homer Monroe and Rhoda Arizona "Zona" (Russell) Lane on December 16, 1918, on the family farm in Turkey, Texas, USA, he came from humble and hard-working, salt-of-the-Earth people. He had a kindred connection to the Earth and was a farmer his entire life.

He was "Clinton" to all of those who knew him pre-WWII, and "Jim" to those who met him afterwards. And even later, he would be known as "Mr. Lane" to all of his students.

Clinton was known to outwork many adults as a child on the farm. According to his family he would work his row, turn to work the next row as fast as possible, and then work back to meet his mother in the middle of her row - just so that his mother would not have to work so hard in the fields. He lived through the Great Dust Bowl and then through the Great Depression.

After a rough harvest in the Fall of 1941, Clinton's Turkey Schools Superintendent [who realized Clinton's capabilities] recommended that Clinton go to Plainview, Texas, to take a Government test for placement in developing jobs across the US.

He was placed as a Civilian employee of the United States Army Air Corps in San Antonio, TX, where he worked at a warehouse on San Pedro Street "taking the gyroscopes out of the WWI 'War Wearies' [WWI planes] and building the very first drones - known as "Baby Pilots" or Culver PQ-14 systems. "These systems," said Clinton, "were radio-controlled target drones for anti-aircraft training of artillery gunners - flown by remote radio control out over the bombing ranges and then shot down."

Clinton moved from that job to Duncan Field [later part of Kelly Air Force Base and now part of Lackland AFB] where he began working on fabrication and construction of the very first landing systems. A select group of men used 3 gyroscopes in building the landing systems. Clinton explained, "The gyroscope gives a more 'true' measure than the compass. The compass will quickly come off 'true' while the gyroscope maintains 'true'. That is why to this day you will see large, triangular structures at the end of each runway. They are very large magnets with which pilots who are in take-off reset their gyroscopes to these large magnetic compasses for flight."

The landing systems functioned off of the hydraulics of the LEFT prop engine. [To this day, landing systems are always found on the left wing of aircraft.] Components were hand-lathed to the "Nth" degree of perfection. At the beginning of the program, there was only one man allowed to fabricate the hand-lathed components. When production became substantially backed-up, Clinton began fabrication. His group was concerned that he could not do the job correctly until they realized that his skill was exceptional. Until his passing everything that Clinton did was with careful thought, precision and perfection.

Because of the exactness required in his job tasks, Clinton purchased a spiral notebook. He drew illustrations of his components with short notes - in sequence - so that he would be more efficient in his job. "One day the Commanding Officer (CO) came through the work area. He stopped, picked up my book and went through it. He asked, 'Is it ok with you if I take this to my General Officer for him to see? I promise I will bring it right back.' I told him that was fine with me. The next thing I knew is that they [Military] wanted me to leave the program I was working in and start my own department writing training and instruction manuals."

"I woke up on December 7, 1941, and San Antonio was crawling with military. I asked someone 'What is going on?' They said, 'Pearl Harbor has been bombed!' I asked, 'Where is Pearl Harbor?'" All of Clinton's family and friends were enlisting. He made the decision to quit his job in San Antonio, go back home to Turkey, TX, and enlist. "I was immediately sent back to San Antonio in the very same job, building landing systems. The military took me out of 'Enlisted' and brought me back into the service as 'Commissioned Officer.' The only significant difference was that "Clinton" became "James" and "Jim" [the military would only refer to troops by their first names.]

"I was stationed at the Municipal Airport in Greensboro, NC, 86 miles from Fort Bragg with a Material Group of about 1300 men. Fort Bragg did not have an airstrip, so we lived in a 'tent city', installing and servicing landing systems on planes from there. One day, I noticed a group of planes way out on the end of the runway. I thought they were crazy! They were doing very short landings and takeoffs. The squadron rolled into the repair depot. The Lieutenant Colonel said, 'I am having trouble with this landing system.' I climbed up into the left prop engine to adjust the hydraulics - those gyroscopes tended to wear out, and rather than rebuilding them, we began to replace the old ones with new ones. I said, 'That may level it out. Fly it tomorrow and if you're still having trouble, bring it back in here and I will replace it.' The Lieutenant Colonel began to walk off. He stopped, turned back to me and said, 'We are training for an overseas mission. I don't have an Engineer. Maybe you can go with us.' I said, 'I don't think they'll let me go because I'm the only guy doing this job here, but I'll go ask the CO if it's possible.' I walked over to the CO's office. He told me I couldn't go, but I noticed a sign in his office asking for people willing to test for pilot training and signed up right there."

As Jim's Material Group departed for North Africa, he left for pilot training in California and Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle left for his overseas mission without an Engineer. "Until the time that I went to flight school, pilots were all from the Academies, but we [US] were running out of pilots."

By this time the United States Army Air Corps had became the United States Army Air Forces. Groups of 5 men were assigned to one flight instructor. Training began on PT17 bi-planes, and moved to Cessna 110 Bobcats. "Pilots were separated into 2 groups: Fighters and Bombers. I was a bomber. I flew B17's, 24's, 25's and 29's." From there, he was stationed 1st in Georgia and then in Smyrna, Tennessee. One bunkmate in Smyrna was Robert Hightower of the "Dancing Hightower Brothers". Bob was married to Vera Ellen at the time that Jim bunked with him. Jim made the decision to leave the United States Air Force in 1944 at the end of WWII to pursue education.

Jim enrolled in West Texas State College in Canyon, TX, where he earned a degree in Mechanical Drawing and Industrial Arts. His first child, David Allen Lane, was born while he was in college. At graduation, Jim moved to his first teaching position in Carlsbad, NM.

Before he left to college, Jim was initiated into the Ancient Fee and Accepted Masonic Order in Turkey, Texas. The impact of the Masonic Order remained of major importance his entire life.

Jim taught wood shop, math and science at the Carlsbad Junior High School. This milestone would prove to be another life-changing story.

Shortly after his move, Jim was initiated into the Benevolent and Protected Order of the Elks, Carlsbad Elks Lodge #1558. There he met Bill Seedorff, a young engineer at the potash mines.

Vera Belle Glenn, another young, first year teacher in Carlsbad, was the new Home Economics teacher. She and Carolyn Hill rented one bedroom together in a home in Carlsbad - that was all they could afford. Vera Belle organized a "meet and greet" dinner reception in the Home Ec. Department for all new teachers.

Jim stayed afterwards to help do dishes and clean-up. The rest is history. Bill and Carolyn Seedorff were attendants at their wedding and have remained close to this day. Jeff and Lora Nell Glenn were also attendants.

From Carlsbad, Jim and Ve moved to Los Alamos, NM, where they taught when the city was still a closed city. [No one could enter Los Alamos without express permission because of the secret planning and production that it held for the US military.] Jim developed his own program for children with behavioral difficulties. He engaged them in physical activities. "They would pound copper, with rubber mallets, into ashtrays over moulds I had made out of wood. I would see those kids pounding out all of their anger and frustration into those projects. Not only would their demeanors change, but they were very proud of their accomplishments," Jim said. As a result of this program, the Superintendent of Los Alamos asked Jim to move with him to New York where a new school being specially developed for children with behavioral issues. Jim did not want to move his family to New York, so he declined the offer. The Superintendent fashioned some of the structure after Jim's example.

Jim was offered another Civilian job with the Government at Amarillo Air Force Base as a Jet Engine Mechanical Instructor. Airplanes were moving from props to jets and not many understood the mechanics of these engines. There, both Sherry Lee Lane and Rhonda Sue Lane were born.

From there Jim and Ve moved to Van Horn, TX, where they both taught school. Jim was noted as an outstanding math teacher, where some of his students became the Texas State Math Champions. Jim helped his students devise a method of equation calculation that would improve their time in answering questions. Jim and Ve had 1000 cage laying chickens on their property in Van Horn. Every morning before school they would candle the eggs and sell them to local restaurants. When the time came where there was a need to choose between teaching and raising chickens for eggs, they chose education - an innate love that they both share. Donald Glenn Lane was born in Van Horn, TX.

From there, Jim and Ve moved to Reserve, NM. Ve wanted to be closer to her Glenn family and Jim supported that. They rented a log cabin on the Pine Lawn Ranch, owned by Curtis and Ann Maxwell. Ve stayed home with the kids and Jim was the Principal and math and science teacher at Reserve High School. Jim drove 3 days per week, after the end of the school day, into Silver City and back the same night so that he could earn his Master Degree in Education from WNMU.

During this time the people of Glenwood, NM, were building their new "teacher parsonage" next to the elementary school. Jim and Ve were asked to move to Glenwood to teach in their 2-room schoolhouse. Ve taught grades 1-4 while Jim taught 4-8. He was also Principal. Jimmie Lou (Bimi) Lane was born while they lived in Glenwood.

In 1961, teaching positions opened in Ve's hometown of Silver City, and the Lane family moved to their final location. Ve's brother, Jeff Glenn, was Jim's first best friend with the move and they have remained close since that time. Jim became a 32nd Degree Mason in 1961.

Mr. Lane first taught woodshop, math and science at Silver City Junior High School before becoming Principal at Sixth Street Elementary School. When the new Harrison Schmidt Elementary School was built in the 70s, Mr. Lane was honored to become the first Principal of that school. The majority of "his" teachers made the move with him, as they appreciated working with him. After 36 years of belonging to that special group of people who serve Education, the Lanes retired in 1985.

Mr. Lane served for a time on the Silver City Commission. He was a Lay Leader in the First United Methodist Church, where he was often asked to present sermons as substitute when Ministers were absent. The Lanes were known to help anyone who needed help. It was not unusual for students to come to their home for guidance and counsel. In the 1980's the Lanes purchased the Silver City Enterprise Newspaper - the longest continually operating newspaper in New Mexico. Jim and Ve have actively served their communities, the youth and the people wherever they lived - and they have loved every minute of it!

James Clinton Lane was preceded in death by his son, David Allen Lane; parents Homer and Zona; brother Harold; sister Linda; brother-in-law JV "Son" Glenn Jr; and the many, many people who became family over the years. Jim and Ve Lane regularly opened their arms and home to encompass people from all walks of life. He was the last of his immediate family to join the Heavenly Reunion - what a reunion that must have been!

He is survived by his soul mate and wife just short of 64 years, Vera Belle (Glenn) Lane: children Sherry (& Vish) Iyer, Rhonda (& Pat Hardy) Lane, Don Lane and Bimi (& Joel) Huebner. Grandchildren Kristy (& Craig) Kessler, Renee (& Brendan Rogillio) Diamond, John (& Crystal) Diamond and Cammy (& Chris) Wade: Great-Grandchildren Jude Lane, Riley, Gabrielle and Reece Kessler; Cayden and Reece Diamond; Violet and Finnegan James Rogillio; and Graham Wade. He is also survived by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jeff and Lora Nell (Smith) Glenn, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins - all of whom he held dear.

Hanging above his chair in his bedroom was the following quote: "There are two great things a Father hopes to give his children. One of these is roots. The other, wings." ~H. Darter. He more than accomplished this - not just for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren - but for the countless children he mentored, taught and loved.

Public services will be held at the Silver City Masonic Lodge #8, AF & AM, located on the corner of NM State Hwy 90 and Ridge Road (11 Ridge Road). Jim was instrumental in the structural design and building of the Lodge. Services will begin at 2:00 pm on Friday, April 24, 2015. The Reverend David Goble (a dear family friend) will lead the services; after which The Grand Master of the New Mexico Grand Lodge, Jefferson H. Jordan Jr., will conduct the Masonic portion of the services. Jim was known for conducting a large number of funeral services for his Brethren not only in Silver City, but throughout New Mexico.

Among the many working to bring this wonderful "Celebration of James Clinton Lane's Life" to fruition include, but are not limited to, the families of Jeff Glenn, Hal Day, Robert Baker, Gary Baker, Joe Delk, Bucky Allred, Jim's Masonic and Elks families and to Mr. Lane's very, very dear Educational families. A special thank you, and our love, to Diana Silva, her family and to the Horizon Hospice "Earth Angels": Wanda, Dan, Trish, Kayla, Sarah, Martha, Andy and Christina.

The Lane family wishes to honor all of those people who have been touched by Jim Lane's life [and therefore touched our hearts] as honorary pallbearers.

The Jim Lane family suggests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Silver City Masonic Lodge #8 AF & AM Educational Scholarship Fund, the Horizon Hospice facility, or to a charity of their choice in the name of James Clinton Lane.

A Special Thank You to Harry and staff of Bright Funeral Home who have led us through this journey with utmost care and concern.