TOMMY LANE JR.

SIKESTON -- Tommy Lee Lane Jr., 71, of Sikeston died Thursday, July 15, 1999, in Sikeston of an apparent heart attack.

He was born Feb. 28, 1928, in Blodgett, son of the late Tommy and Rosie Harris Lane. He married Ruby Meeks in 1953. She preceded him in death. He married Jessie Marshall in 1968.

He retired from Bunny Bread in Sikeston and at the time of his death was employed as a gardener for Montgomery Estates. He was a member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Sikeston.

He is survived by his wife; two sons, Larry Marshall of Sikeston and Ben Van Jr. of Homestead, Fla.; 12 daughters, Tammy Lane of Indianapolis, Sandford Lane Moore of Cape Girardeau, Venita Lane Mosley, Toni Lane, Mars Ann Smith, Regina Sanders, Rose Johnson, Rosie Lane Mitchell, Belinda Johnson, Ursula Lane, Lisa Lane and Nicole Lane, all of Sikeston.

Also surviving are his stepmother, Eliza Luster Lane of Oran; four brothers, Willie Lane of Sikeston and Johnny Lane, Boise Richardson and Jack Richardson, all of St. Louis; three sisters, Betty Johnson of Sikeston and Marcelene Wheatly and Ruby Eskridge of Chicago; 45 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and a special friend, Tyrone Price of Sikeston.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the funeral hour of 11 a.m. Monday at the Green Memorial Church of God in Christ in Sikeston, with Bishop Charlie Green Jr. and the Rev. Flem E. Bronner Sr. officiating.

Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Sikeston. Williams-Farr and Purnell Funeral Home in Sikeston is in charge of arrangements.