Obituary of Eric Conner McLane

Eric Conner McLane, 22, of Niles, passed from this world into the next on Friday, May 7, 2021. Eric was born on July 24, 1998, to Eric “Ric” and Shawnice McLane in Niles. Eric was a free soul who found his passion in life with music. He learned to read sheet music, could play nearly every instrument he picked up, and loved being in the drumline during high school. To say that music was important to Eric would be the understatement of the century. He used music to communicate, he was an aspiring artist, loved playing the piano, and even taught himself to play the ukulele. Eric was brilliant, he was caring, he was also a comedian. He brought a new perspective and humor to every situation he was in. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Eric M. McLane, and uncles, Tom Gipson and Timothy McLane. Eric is survived by his father, Ric (Teresa) McLane of Niles; mother, Shawnice (Dennis Lawson) Billingsley of Niles; paternal grandmother, Linda McLane of Niles; maternal grandfather, Armon Gipson of Niles; maternal grandmother, Theresa Vance of Niles; siblings, Shy’Anna (Jonah) McLane of Niles, Jani Bennett of Elkhart, Matthew Bennett of Niles, Dillion Bennett of Buchanan, Lily Bennett of Buchanan, Shane Bennett of Buchanan, and Deon Lawson of Niles; nieces and nephews, Anna’Bell, Layden, Envi, and Danika uncles, John (Lisa) Gipson of Niles and Scott McLane of Buchanan; and many extended family members and close friends. A time of visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at Brown Funeral Home in Niles from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. A funeral service to celebrate and remember Eric’s life will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.