Dana Lou Groce

Dana Lu Lane Groce of Murfreesboro, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2026. She was born in Fayetteville, Tennessee, on May 31, 1948, to Forrest Elgin Lane and Lynda Williams Lane.

Dana lived life with an adventurous spirit, a generous heart, and a smile that seemed to always be there. People often commented on how she was always smiling and possessed such a warm, good-natured spirit. She never met a stranger and could strike up a conversation with just about anyone. Once the conversation started, she might very well talk your ears off.

After raising her children, Dana returned to college and earned her degree from Middle Tennessee State University. She remained a dedicated follower of her alma mater's athletics program and was a longtime member of the Blue Raider Athletics Association. Dana especially loved cheering on the Lady Raiders basketball team. She spent many years working for State Farm Insurance Company before retiring, giving her more time to do what she loved most: travel, enjoy life, and spend time with her family. Her grandchildren held a particularly special place in her heart and lovingly called her “Mamou.”

Dana was quite the traveler and loved seeing the world. Her adventures took her to Israel, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and Peru, where she visited Machu Picchu.

Dana was a devoted mother and grandmother and was always deeply involved in the lives of her family. She served as a room mother for many years in her children's and grandchildren's elementary school classes, volunteering most recently at Northfield Elementary School and McFadden School of Excellence. She was also a stalwart volunteer with Meals on Wheels, faithfully giving her time to help others in her community.

Perhaps Dana's greatest journey was the one she was always preparing for. Dana was a Christian who loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and her faith was the central pillar of her life. She attended North Boulevard Church of Christ for nearly 50 years and treasured the friendships she made there. She especially loved spending time with her Bible study and prayer groups, where she shared her faith and formed relationships that meant so much to her.

Now, Dana is on her next big trip — a trip to Heaven to meet the King of Kings. While those of us who love her will miss her terribly, we take comfort in knowing that this is the destination she looked forward to most.

Dana was known for many things, including her beautiful blue eyes, her infectious smile, and her unmistakable walk. For her sons, there was never any trouble picking Mom out of a crowd — they could spot her from a distance by the way she swung her arms when she walked. It was one of those little things that became uniquely Dana. Fittingly, that trait is already being carried on by her granddaughter Olivia, who walks just like her Mamou.

And then there was the black pepper.

Dana loved black pepper. Really loved black pepper, a trait that she inherited from her father. In fact, her family joked that she used enough of it to single-handedly affect the national economy. As one family member put it: “The World Pepper Company CEO of just called an emergency board meeting because of pepper usage dropping by 5% and their stock is in a free fall.”

Dana’s life was full of people, places, stories, laughter, service, faith, and love. She traveled the world, but her greatest adventures were found in the people she loved. She had a remarkable ability to make people feel like old friends, whether she had known them for fifty years or had just met them five minutes earlier.

Her family will miss her smile, her stories, her conversations, her beautiful blue eyes, her good-natured spirit, and even the way she walked into a room — arms swinging, ready to talk to somebody. Most of all, they will miss Mamou.

Dana was preceded in death by her parents, Lynda Williams Lane and Forrest Elgin Lane, and her brother, Douglas Lynn Lane.

She leaves behind her loving husband of 59 years, Wayne Groce; sons Chris (Carrie) Groce and Benjamin Groce; grandchildren Olivia Groce, Garrison Groce, and Rosemary Groce; and a large extended family whom she loved dearly.

She is survived by her nieces and nephews on the Lane side of the family: Lee Anna Jackson, Cynthia (Mark) Mizell of Arcadia, Florida, and their brother Nathan Lane of North Port, Florida. She is also survived by her brother-in-law and sisters-in-law Ronnie (Juandell) Groce of Castalian Springs; Judy Franklin of Lynchburg; Marsha (Michael) Walp of Elora, Tennessee; and Carol Groce of Fayetteville; along with nieces and nephews Angie Franklin, Amy Smith, Meleia Dotson, Annissa (Toby) Rapoza, Melanie (Jeremy) Johnson, Michael (Jill) Groce, Anna (BJ) Casey, Alisha Krause, and Thomas (Alyssa) Bates.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Alive Hospice and to everyone who reached out, visited, prayed, and surrounded Dana and her family with such an outpouring of love during her final days.

Memorial donations may be made to Alive Hospice, 1629 Williams Drive, Murfreesboro, TN 37129, or online at alivehospice.org.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you hug your mother or grandmother, tell her that you love her, and cherish the time you have with her. It would be a fitting tribute to Dana, who loved her family fiercely and never took for granted the people she loved.

Visitation will be Sunday, September 20th 2:00PM to 4:00PM at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Funeral service will be Sunday, September 20th 4:00PM at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Graveside service will be Monday, September 21st 2:00PM at Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. www.woodfinchapel.com