(Enjoyed Successful Career In Journalism)
Mark Richard Lane of Kibler, Arkansas, 36, passed away peacefully on February 18th, 2024, surrounded by his family at Mercy Hospital in Perrysburg, Ohio from a rare and sudden lung disease.
He was born on January 5, 1988 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to James and Penny (Fingerhut) Lane. Mark had unbridled dedication to his career, obtaining his bachelor’s degree in broadcasting and communication at Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma in 2011 — a launching pad to the orbit he’d inevitably reach.
He’d then leave the comfortable confines of the Arklahoma area to perfect his craft with a move in late 2011 to the nation’s capital, where he was awarded a role with Voice of America.
Whether it was an on-air role or one behind the scenes, his journey including Channel Five News in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Fox Sports Texarkana and WFAA Channel 8 in Dallas, Mark was a lighthouse of energy and a testament to what’s required in the pursuit of greatness.
Eventually, he’d make the move to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to truly dig into his passion for sports journalism, to great success.
He began covering the NFL in 2012 with bylines appearing on Fox Sports and Sports Illustrated’s network. His work has been cited by ProFootballTalk, Sporting News, and NFL.com.
Mark’s favorite hobby and pastime was spending quality time with his family, either discussing trending topics or sharing old memories.
Mark was preceded in death by his father James Roland Lane, Sr., his grandparents Roland and Ratha Lane, Patricia Fingerhut, and Robert Fingerhut, and his beloved uncles Richard Wrede (namesake), Pete Offill, Barry Blood, Randy Fingerhut, and Frank Cochran.
Mark is survived by his mother, Penny Lane of Kibler, Arkansas, Justice of the Peace, District 8; his brothers James (Angie) Lane, Jr. of Van Buren, Arkansas, Mickey (Brandee) Lane of Conroe, Texas; his sister Monica (Zach) Miller of Archbold, Ohio; his nieces and nephews Trey Lane, Mickey Lane, Jr., Shea Lane, Andrew Lane, Prudence Lane, Noah Lane, Gray Lane, Lydia Lane, Brady Miller and Lillian Miller; his eight great nieces and nephews; his maternal aunts Susan Wrede of Bellflower, Illinois and Jenny Blood of Hamilton, Michigan; his paternal aunts Lequetta (Alton) Yates of Kibler, Arkansas, and Betty Cochran of Madison, Alabama; his maternal Wrede cousins, Fingerhut cousins, Blood cousins, Offill cousins, and Fingerhut cousins; and his paternal Yates cousins, Cochran cousins, and Burnham and Farnham first cousins once removed.
He is also survived by his best friend Josh McKay and his beloved colleagues on both the Cowboys’ and Texans’ news beats.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 27th in Alma, Arkansas and burial on February 28th at Gill Cemetery in Van Buren, Arkansas. Times are still pending. Edwards Van-Alma is facilitating the funeral arrangements in Arkansas.
Mark’s wishes were that his mother also receive flowers at his funeral for anyone who feels led to comfort her in this way.
