BRUNSWICK - Rev. Nellie Rose Lane, 95, formerly of Water Street, died
Saturday at Seaside Nursing and Retirement Center in Portland.
She was born in Monmouth, a daughter of James and Susan Mullen Hanlon. She
graduated from Edward Little High School in Auburn, and Nyack College in New
York.
Her first assignment after college was in Patterson, N.J., where she was in
charge of the ''Star of Hope'' Missions.
Eventually she returned to Auburn to be with her mother and it was there that she
married Carl Lane. Mrs. Lane served the dutiful role of pastor's wife throughout
her husband's 18 years of ministry in Jamaica, Vermont, and Brewster, Mass.,
on Cape Cod.
The Rev. Carl Lane died at age 46. For a few years during his final illness, Mrs.
Lane worked for Curtis Publishing Co., on Cape Cod.
Mrs. Lane was ordained May 16, 1950, in the Phillips United Baptist Church,
Phillips. Later she was called to Burnham where she pastored the Baptist Church
for 17 years.
In the 1950s and '60s, there were only 14 American Baptist clergywomen in
Maine. She found it necessary to supplement her weekly salary as a pastor by
''moonlighting'' in the Burnham Nursing Home. She enjoyed this work and
became very efficient in nursing skills.
She later served Baptist churches in West Harpswell and Lisbon.
At age 62, the Baptist Church usually retire their pastors, but Mrs. Lane was not
ready for retirement. Within a week, she was called for an interview with the
United Methodists.
From 1968-72, she pastored Lisbon and Lisbon Falls churches and during this
time, the two churches united. She also served the North Pownal Methodist
Church and from 1981-85 served Chebeague Island where she retired at age 82.
She also pastored Long Island, Orr's Island, Bailey Island, Bridgton, and
Fryeburg Harbor.
The Rev. Lane has held most of the offices in both the Baptist and Methodist
communities, including being president of the Brunswick Area Council of
Churches and Church Women United. She was active in the Eastern Star and the
Grange in earlier years. She served as camp chaplain for many summers at Ocean
Park.
In 1986, she was recognized by the members of the Senate and the House of
Representatives in Augusta for receiving the Cosrow Award at the Maine Annual
Conference of Methodists for her outstanding work as an advocate, monitor and
catalyst for women.
Rev. Lane retired to Woodlawn Towers, Brunswick, and enjoyed traveling to the
Holy Land and to Europe several times. She also enjoyed traveling with the Maine
Line Tours to Florida and New York City.
Her hobbies relate to people. Her compassionate understanding of everyone she
met, colored with her Irish wit and great sense of humor made her a joy to be
around. Gardening, especially roses which she raised in Portland at the home of
her dear friend and traveling companion, Mary Lou Martindell, brought her much
pleasure. She was well known in Brunswick and South Harpswell area for
teaching classes in ceramics.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Brunswick United
Methodist Church, 320 Church Road with the Revs. Linda J. Campbell-Marshall
and the Rev. James T. McPhee officiating. Burial will be in Whipple Cemetery,
Jackman. Arrangements are by Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal St.,
Brunswick.
(copied from the Portland Press Herald , Oct 20, 1998)