Resident Spotlight: Gail Lane
Katherine Gail Lane has always called Rome, Georgia, home. Born on the very last day of 1944, she entered the world alongside her twin sister, Dale. The two were partners in crime from the beginning, with their younger sister Elaine trailing close behind. Rome wasn’t just a place on the map—it was where Gail learned the rhythms of small-town life, walking the halls of East 10th School and later, Model High, where she collected her diploma in 1963.
After graduation, Gail set her sights on a career in hairdressing. She signed on at a local shop, training under the watchful eye of its owner. For two years, she washed, snipped, and styled, learning the trade hands-on until she earned her license. Even then she stuck around, putting in three more years. There seemed to be no better way to learn than watching regulars come and go, each with their own stories to tell. Eventually, she spread her wings, moving on to new shops and new customers.
Marriage took her away from her hometown for six years—just long enough to realize that Rome was always where her heart lived. When she returned, she settled into her role as a hairdresser once again and poured herself into her work. For the next quarter-century, she brought a little confidence and maybe a little sparkle to everyone with a seat in her chair. Ten of those years she ran her own salon, steering her own small business with care.
By 1985, Gail was ready for a change. She stepped out of the salon and into the world of retail. After a few years, her path led to Murphy Harpst Children’s Center, where she found an entirely new way to make a difference. That chapter lasted until 2013—the end of a remarkable 50-year working life.
Her personal life, too, was filled with chapters and characters. Her first husband served in the military, and together they returned to Rome after he retired. Their marriage lasted eight and a half years before ending in 1978. Just a year later, she married Ed, a Navy man who would be her companion for three decades. With Ed came a new family—four stepchildren, along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren as the years went by. They went fishing and took drives to the mountains, always savoring time together until Ed’s passing in 2009.
Gail’s home was rarely quiet. She filled it with music—country, her favorite—and the soft chime of old movies and mysteries. She painted ceramics, crocheted, and brought old furniture back to life. Outdoors, she loved the simple delight of planting flowers and watching them thrive. Animals were always part of Gail’s life, but her heart belonged to King, her loyal dog, and a regal Himalayan cat who stayed by her side for 17 years.
Now, after a year at Renaissance Marquis, Gail is woven into the fabric of her new community. She looks forward to daily gatherings and group lunches with friends—each meal packed with shared laughter and good conversation. She’s made a habit of joining in almost every activity offered, always curious, always open to new company.
At every stage, Katherine Gail Lane has rooted herself in the things and people she loves most, building a life full of stories and memories, all with Rome, Georgia, at the center.
