"Nana"
Lane Wilkins Matthies, 75, passed away August 17, 1999, in Salt Lake City, UT.Born July 13, 1924, in Salt Lake City, UT to James Thomas and Ruth Cook Wright. Married the Honorable D. Frank Wilkins in Salt Lake City, later divorced. Married Kenneth Matthies 1994 in Salt Lake City.
She served in the Navy as a Wave during World War II.
Lane was one of only three woman students when she obtained her J.D. from the University of Utah in 1953 and was the 36th woman to graduate from the College of Law. At a time when law firms politely declined to interview women, Lane convinced Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger McDonough that she was qualified to clerk for him. She also clerked for Justice David T. Lewis of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit. In 1965 she moved on to clerk for Willis W. Ritter of the U.S. Distirict Court, District of Utah. From 1966 to 1989 Lane worked at the University of Utah as a Professor of Law and as the first woman Administrator at the College of Law Library.
Lane was an avid gardener and loved to travel with family and friends. Her greatest joy was her grandchildren and she was blessed to have her last grandchild born on her 75th birthday.
Survived by her husband; two children: Collin (Kathy) Wilkins and Denise (David) Wilkins-Leader; grandchildren: Elisa (Chris), Heather, Adam, Alexis, Justin, C.J., Jill, Megan, Nathan, Ben and her birthday baby Ryan; one great grandson: Christopher; three sisters: Pearl Hoffman, Peggy Cordner and Della Wright; one brother: James Ray (Bud) Wright and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by parents; three sisters and her very special friend, Clare Wanke.
Memorial services and interment will be held Saturday, August 21, 1999, 11 a.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary and Cemetery, 2350 East 1300 South.
A special thanks to the staff on 3 South at St. Mark's Hospital and especially Dr. Barbara Hurst and Dr. Kieuanh Pham.
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