Lana R. Vining

Charlotte – Lana Rae Vining, 70, passed away at a Bangor hospital on July 19, 2021. Lana was born to Kenneth and Ruth (Brown) Sawyer on November 22, 1950, in Calais. She graduated from Calais High School with the class of ’69 and soon after married Maynard L. Vining on April 4, 1970.

Lana made a loving home for her children while they were young but later returned to school, earning, first her teaching certificate from the University of Maine at Machias in 1983 and then her master’s degree. She began her teaching career at Alexander Elementary School where she taught for 15 years and then worked at Princeton Elementary School from 1998 until her retirement in 2012. Lana was the type of teacher that left lasting memories with so many of her students. She was always able to recognize the kid who needed a little extra attention and knew just how to make them feel special.

Lana was a devout member of the Charlotte Baptist Church, a founding member of the Charlotte Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, serving as Vice President for over 46 years and was famous for her fish chowder. She not only made friends wherever she went, but Lana made her friends feel loved and appreciated. She treasured her family whole heartedly and had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Lana was predeceased by her father, S. Kenneth Sawyer; an infant brother, Milford Sawyer; nephew, Kevin Vining and her parents-in-law, Herbert and Eva Vining and Martha Vining.

She will be forever remembered by her husband of 51 years, Maynard Vining; her mother, Ruth E. Sawyer of Charlotte; children, Kenneth Vining and his wife Janet of Kittery and Krista Means and her husband Joseph of Charlotte; four grandchildren, Connor Sherrard and his fiancée Jasmine Corkins, Colton Sherrard, Joseph Means and his wife Felicia, all of Charlotte and Patrick Means and his wife Justine of Edmunds; four great grandchildren, Jayda, Chevelle, Micah, and Natalie Means; sister, Peggy Sawyer of Charlotte; nephew, Chris Vining and his wife Lynne and their children, Lucas & Brooke of Alberta, Canada; niece Kim Roberson and her children, Megan and Ashlynn of AR; brother-in-law, Gilbert Vining and a special sister-in-law, Sandra Porter Vining, both of Alberta, Canada and her special friend, Vernice Boyce of Orr’s Island.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 pm on Friday evening, July 30th at Mays Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Calais. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, July 31st at Charlotte Baptist Church, Ayers Jct. Rd., Charlotte with Pastor Bill Hunt officiating. Committal will follow at Round Pond Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations in Lana’s memory can be made to either Charlotte Baptist Church, c/o Janet Moholland, 21 Annas Dr., Charlotte, ME 04666 or Charlotte Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, c/o Herbert Clark, 9 Annas Dr., Charlotte, ME 04666. The family wishes to thank Dr. Gomez and the amazing nursing staff at St. Joseph Hospital for her extraordinary care.