James E. Lane

NORTHFIELD - James E. Lane, 75, of Northfield, died at his home Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, following a lengthy battle with cancer. Jim was born Jan. 3, 1937, in Burlington, the son of Oscar F. and Bernice "Bunnie" Lane. Jim's young years were spent on the family farms in Shelburne, on Perry Hill in Waterbury and in Duxbury. After graduating from Waterbury High School in 1954, he moved with his family to Saratoga, Wyo., and worked in the timber industry. He served his country in the United States Air Force, enlisting in 1959. He was stationed at Aviano Air Base in Italy, where he worked with teletype machines. He was honorably discharged from active duty in 1962, and from the Reserves in 1965.

Jim returned to Vermont in 1962 and lived in Hinesburg, Hyde Park, Morrisville, Waterbury and Northfield. He worked for New England Telephone Co. for 29 years. He then worked for the Union Carbide/Dow Chemical record center in Morrisville until it was sold. He continued with Vermont Record Center until finally retiring in 2011.

Jim loved the hills and woods of Vermont. He spent much of his free time over the years hiking and snowshoeing, especially on the Long Trail, Little River State Park, Hunger Mountain, Camel's Hump and Beaver Meadow.

Jim is survived by his wife, Doreen Lane; his former wife, Joan Wainer Lane; two sons, Norman Lane, of Burlington, and David and Jolene Lane, of Elmore; a daughter, Sara Lane, and her partner, Paul Jacques, of Richmond; his stepdaughters, Tonya Allen, of Roxbury, Samantha Allen and her partner, Kevin Pecor, of Roxbury; his brother Theodore and Nancy Lane, of Kuna, Idaho; his sister Linda and Richard Weston, of Hinesburg; and his sister-in-law Helen Lane, of Herman, Maine; mother-in-law Beverly Chaffee, of Montpelier; brother-in-law Clifford and Vicki Chaffee, of Xenia, Ill.; and sister-in-law Darcy Greenslit, of Northfield. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Aiden and Colin Lane, Braden Jacques, Mark Bordonaro, Jacob Corbeil, Gabriela Calderon and Addison Pecor. Jim is also survived by his Aunt Ruth, many nieces, nephews and cousins, and two special friends, Frank Cutler, of Elmore, and Fred Grout, of Waterbury.

Jim was predeceased by his parents, his brother Jesse and his sister Barbara Ann.

Family and friends will gather at the home of Frank Cutler in Elmore Sept. 8 to share memories and celebrate Jim's life. Email sljacques33@gmail.com for directions.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Vermont Non-Game Wildlife Fund, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, 103 S. Main St., 10 South, Waterbury, VT 05671-0501.