Mary Elizabeth Edelen Lane, age 66, unexpectedly went to her heavenly home on April 21, 2023 following a brief illness and after her donation of vital organs to others. She was surrounded by her loving family at CHI St. Vincent's Hospital in Hot Springs, AR.

Mary was born in Spokane, WA to Lt. Col. (Ret.) Joseph R. and Marilyn Edelen and was one of 10 children. She graduated from Ursuline Academy in San Antonio, TX and then attended Stephen F. Austin State University where she received both the BS and MS degrees in Forestry and Wildlife Biology.

Mary started her career with the Forest Service in late 1987 as a wildlife biologist.  She worked in several regions including Regions 3, 8 and 9.  She retired from the Ouachita as Forest Wildlife Biologist on 6/30/2018.  Mary had many accomplishments during her time with the Agency.  While working in Louisiana, she received "The Taking Wing Award" which was a very prestigious Forest Service recognition for extraordinary service beyond the call of duty. In 2011, she was acknowledged for her part in the development of a proposal for the Shortleaf – Bluestem Community, a project submitted and later funded under the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP).  Mary was awarded a Quality Step Increase in 2012, an honor held for less than 2% of Agency employees.  In 2015, she received an award for her work with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in producing a Biological Evaluation for the Northern Long-Eared Bat, which was listed under the Endangered Species Act due to extensive mortality from the White-Nosed Syndrome.

She worked and lived in Alexandria, LA; Rolla, MO; and other locations in the Southwest before finally settling in Hot Springs, AR. It was while she was working for the Forest Service that she met and married J. Kent Lane. They were married on March 17, 2001.

Mary and Kent loved to travel and just last year, they and their 8-year-old great grandson, Wyatt, went on a 5 month camping journey to Alaska with her sister, Nancy and brother-in-law, Doug Brown. Prior to that trip, Mary and Kent had followed the Lewis and Clark Trail and the Oregon Trail and visited and camped in numerous state and national parks and forests.

She was predeceased by her parents, Lt. Col. Joseph R. (Ret.) and Marilyn Edelen; her grandparents and two nephews, Robert Edelen and Anthony Edelen.

Mary is survived by her loving husband, Kent, sons, David and Brian (Cheri) May and Derek and Elisa; grandchildren, Laiklyn, Lawrence (Ian), Molly, Skyler, Dahlia, Olivia and Caroline and great grandson, Wyatt. In addition, Mary is survived by her nine brothers and sister, Joe (Mary), Greg (Lauren), Nancy (Doug), Fr. Tom, John (Gianella), Phil (Clare), Chris (Joan), Paul (Nancy) and Rick (Rachel) Edelen: numerous nephews and nieces and many cousins also survive.

Mary deeply loved her family and joined her brothers and sister twice a month on Zoom calls and once a year for family reunions which were held in various locations around the country. Mary was also a master gardener and quilter.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Funeral services in San Antonio, TX will be on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at St. Paul's Catholic Church at 350 Sutton Dr. with Viewing at 8:00am, a Rosary to be recited at 8:45am followed by Eulogies and a Funeral Mass at 9:30am. Services will be live streamed on Mary Elizabeth's Facebook page.

Burial will be held in the family plot at Holy Cross Cemetery at 17501 Nacogdoches Rd at 12 noon.  There will not be a procession to the cemetery.

Services for Mary will be held at a later date in Hot Springs, AR.

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Memorials may be made in Mary's name to the Joseph R. and Marilyn Edelen Family Scholarship fund at Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, 1403 N. St. Mary's St., San Antonio, TX 78215, 210-225-6794 or the National Park Service at NPS.gov.

Mary was greatly loved and will be missed by all who knew her. She lived a beautiful –and profound life.