Dane DeMar Laney

Dane DeMar Laney, 75, passed away Thursday, January 15, 2026, at TerraBella Lake Norman from complications of Parkinson's Disease.

A funeral service is scheduled for 6:00 pm Friday, January 23, 2026, at Lady’s Funeral Home Chapel. Bishop Dr. Mark Aldous will officiate. The family will receive friends from 4 to 5:45 pm prior to the service.

The service will also be streamed live at www.ladysfuneralhome.com/live.

Mr. Laney was born on January 25, 1950 in Cabarrus County. He was the son of the late Vance F. Laney and Arrie Etta Johnson Laney. A 1969 graduate of A. L. Brown High School, he carried his pride for his community throughout his life.

Dane dedicated his career to public service, working in law enforcement, always guided by a strong sense of duty and care for others. His lifelong passion for football was evident in his more than 25 years of active involvement with the Kannapolis Booster Club, where he served as past President and current Vice President.

From 1998 to 2025, he was a familiar on-air voice as well as the Executive Director for the Wonder Football Radio broadcast. He was deeply committed to preserving and strengthening his community.

Dane was also active with the Kannapolis History Associates, the Cabarrus Planning Commission, the Cabarrus County Sports Hall of Fame Board, and was instrumental in raising thousands of dollars to support athletes for both A. L. Brown and KMS, along with various athletic scholarships for future generations.

He is survived by wife, Julie Smith Laney; two daughters, Kelly Laney Roy and husband Rick of Lake Norman of Catawba and Kristin Laney Briggs of Kannapolis; sister, Victoria Marsden-Lynch and husband John of London, England; and six step-grandchildren.

Memorials for Dane may be directed to the Kannapolis Booster Club, PO Box 344, Kannapolis, NC 28082 or the Cabarrus County Sports Hall of Fame, PO Box 1374, Mt. Pleasant, NC 28124.