James F Lane

James Frederick Lane was born August 31, 1940 to George & Esther (Brosseau) Lane in Tacoma.  He grew up in Tacoma’s north end, attending Holy Cross School, Bellarmine H.S., Stadium H.S., and was in the first graduating class at Wilson H.S. in 1959.  After high school he attended WSU where he was in the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.  He also attended the University of Washington.  In 1966 he married Lucine Phair of Puyallup.  They had two children, Shannon and Aaron.    Jim retired from the Washington State Department of Transportation Ferry System’s terminal engineering division in 1997 after working there for more than 30 years.  Jim was a lifelong golfer, was involved in coaching youth soccer in Fife-Milton-Edgewood and Port Orchard and youth baseball in Fife and Federal Way.  He held various board positions in the FME Jr Soccer Club, was a member of the Tacoma Athletic Commission (TAC), and was inducted into the Tacoma-Pierce County Baseball Old Timers Hall of Fame for his years of playing slow-pitch for the Heidelberg team.  He was selected to many all-star teams for Heidelberg and was a second team All-American at the national tournament in 1968.  He was the first recipient of the Pierce County Parks Inspiration Award which was named in his honor.

Jim will be remembered for his love of life, his love of family and friends, sports and coaching.  He was funny, kind, had a positive outlook on life, and loved to tell stories of his many life experiences and escapades.  He enjoyed working in his yard and took plant cuttings on his and Lucines many travels.

Jim is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lucine Lane, his daughter Shannon Hassebrock (Mark), his daughter-in-law Denise, grandchildren Berkley and Jacob Hassebrock and Joshua Lane, and his sister Catherine Lane-Penic.  He is preceded in death by his son Aaron Lane, parents George and Esther Lane, and brother David Lane.

In memory of Jim, please consider a donation to: Tacoma Athletic Commission scholarship fund (www.tacomaathletic.com); or The Shanaman Sports Museum (tacomasportsmuseum.com); or the Fife Milton Edgewood Jr Soccer Club Rec soccer scholarship fund (www.fmesoccer.org).

We will hold a celebration of Jim’s life this summer when we can gather and tell stories.