BENNY LANE,

82, of North Little Rock, passed away peacefully on April 19, 2023. Ben was born in Leslie, Ark., on October 11, 1940 to Clyde and Vivian Baysinger Lane. He grew up in North Little Rock and was a 1958 graduate of NLR High School.

Ben was a faithful member of the Dockins Sunday School Class at Park Hill Baptist Church until his health prohibited.

Ben spent his career in the glass business. He worked for several glass companies over the years in a variety of positions from auto glass installer to management.

Ben was a self-taught knife maker. His oneof-a-kind Bowie knives have been on display at The Alamo in San Antonio and currently at Old Washington State Park near Hope. He had a gift for the design and creating beautiful works of art. In earlier years, he and our mom were avid archery enthusiasts. He also loved track and field, particularly the high jump and pole vault. Ben held several state records for many years. Later in life, Ben won numerous medals in the Arkansas Senior Olympics.

Ben loved his family and he cherished the regular get-togethers with his loved ones.

Ben is preceded in death by his parents; high school sweetheart who became his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth Tilbury Lane; his brother, David “Spike” Lane; his infant sister, JoAnn Lane; and his son-in-law, Michael Salkeld.

He is survived by his daughters, Vicky Salkeld Dahinden (Eric) and Debby Smith (Travis); his granddaughter, Stephanie Young Jeffers (Michael); his grandsons Steven Rushin (Sherri) and Derrell Johnson (Christine Grauer); his great-granddaughters, Jordan and Whitney Jeffers; his nephew, Chuck Campbell (Phyllis); his special sister-in-law Patricia Polk (Jack Bailey); his cousin/sister by another mother, Donna Shoemaker (John); his life-long friend, Jim Davis; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Daddy will be remembered for the many little sayings he often quoted, such as “Napping while driving prevents old age.” and “What has to happen for what’s going to happen, to happen, will happen.” We will miss him terribly but take great comfort in knowing he is now with his Lord and Savior, and reunited with his family who had gone on before him. This isn’t goodbye - it’s “see ya later!”

We would like to thank Good Shepherd Nursing and Rehabilitation and Arkansas Hospice for their amazing care in his final months and days. Family visitation will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 23, 2023, and a Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, April 24, 2023 at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park, Alexander. Online guestbook at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.