James F. LANE III

James LANE Obituary

James F. LANE III James F. Lane III, of Friday Harbor, passed away October 19, 2011 in Bellingham, WA. He was 77. A fifth-generation Washingtonian, he was born July 6, 1934 in Seattle to James F. Lane Jr. and Donna Nelson Lane. He was the grandson of prominent Seattle banker James F. Lane Sr., a nephew of four US admirals, and grand-nephew of H.D Collier, founding chairman of Saudi Aramco. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1956, and served as a naval officer with the US Pacific Fleet, later becoming a founding partner in the Seattle public relations firm Merry, Calvo, Lane & Baker. Following the sale of MCL&B to Hill & Knowlton, he served as H&K's managing director for Australia/New Zealand, and later as a senior vice president for the firm in Seattle, Houston, Tokyo, Chicago and New York. Jim was an advisor to three US Senators; also, he was a speechwriter for Governor Dan Evans of Washington state, President Nelson Mandela of South Africa, and numerous corporate CEOs. He was a director of the International Churchill Society, a co-founder of Young Achievement, and four-time president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia. Jim is survived by his wife, Louise G. Lane of Friday Harbor; a daughter, Nancy Lane of Sydney, Australia; a son and daughter-in-law, Jim Lane IV and Flavia M. Lane of Key Biscayne, FL; a brother and sister in-law, William M. Lane and Deirdre S. Lane of New Canaan, CT; grandchildren William P. Shaw, Alexander J. Shaw, Mitchell A. Chesher and Isabel C. Lane; great-grand children Mary E. Shaw and Boaz J. Shaw; and many nieces and nephews. His first wife, Sharon Dugan Lane, preceded him in death in 1996.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Seattle Times on Oct. 30, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for James LANE

4 Entries

Amy Gamet

October 17, 2021

I'm teaching a college English course and got to Googling the greatest writers I've ever known. I was sad to find Jim's obituary instead of a Facebook page, but alas, he never would have had a FB page... I fondly remember him holding up a pen and laughing with glee when the company's computer systems went down one day, and everyone but him had lost considerable work.

I worked for him back in 1995... my first job out of college at OOW, working for both him and George McGrath. I typed up the words Jim had written with a felt-tipped pen... mostly speeches. Sounds inglorious for me, but it was an amazing education in what words, in the right hands, could accomplish. (I also smoked cigarettes in his office, classical music always playing in the background, my presence welcome as long as I didn't speak and interrupt his writing.)

I vividly remember the day he went to hear a speech of his being given at an event, only to find out he'd written all three speeches being given that day. He was a wonder; a good and interesting man whose company and wisdom I enjoyed tremendously. He often spoke of his son, the golf writer, and daughter, with great pride. There was a clock on his desk with some significance therein. He was utterly dedicated to his wife and visited her every day, though I know she passed shortly after I stopped working for the firm. I was thrilled to read in his obituary that he married again.

I remember he always carried his checkbook in his breast pocket, and believed people should eat only one heavy meal a day, with a lighter one to compensate. (I've often thought of him as the number on my scale has crept up over the years.) But the best Jim story of all, in my mind, was the day I showed up for work "late". I arrived shortly before my 10am start time, and he berated me in uncharacteristic fashion. I told him I worked ten to six, so I could watch the phones at the end of the day, and he apologized. "Wait, you thought I was late to work every day for the last six months, and you never said anything?" I asked. He grumbled in a his curmudgeon way. "I figured George would take care of it." I laughed so hard.

I'm so glad I got to know Jim. I hope these words bring a smile to the faces of those who loved him, no matter how late these words are arriving.

Thank you for the window into your words, Jim. You taught me more than you could know.

Amy Gamet nee Richards, who now writes romance novels you probably wouldn't enjoy. <3

Kim Petrowski

November 23, 2011

To the wonderful and always kind and caring "Mr. J."

I was so sad to hear of your passing.

I will miss you and I'm so lucky and thankful for having the honor of working for you and of knowing you.

My condolences to your loving family and dear friends.

May you Rest in Peace.

With much respect and admiration,
"Mr. K."

November 7, 2011

It was a great shock to receive in the mail today the news that Jim had died. Distances and time dull memories and strain friendships but over the years we have managed to keep in touch

October 30, 2011

....and yet you were so much more than this....

Love you Dad,

Nancy x

Showing 1 - 4 of 4 results