A memorial service for Nancy Kay Lane Askins, age 73, of Fayetteville, TN, will be held at 6 PM on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Higgins Funeral Home with Rev. Tommy Vann and Rev. Wyatt Stevens officiating. Visitation with the family will be from 4 PM until 6 PM on Thursday at Higgins. A private burial will take place on a later date at Booneville Cemetery.
Kay was born on May 12, 1952, to the late Frank Green and Nancy Wilkes Lane. A lifelong learner and dedicated caregiver, she began her career as a registered nurse and later earned her master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner. She achieved both degrees while balancing full-time work and raising a family, which is a testament to her resilience and commitment. Kay retired from the Tennessee Department of Health, where she served in family planning, and also shared her knowledge and passion for nursing as an instructor at Motlow State Community College.
Kay embodied the heart of a true Southern hostess. She found joy in entertaining, carefully setting tables, decorating her home, and preparing meals that brought people together. Every holiday was celebrated with care, but Christmas was her favorite, and her decorations transformed the house into a festive wonderland. Her love for creating warm, welcoming spaces extended beyond her own home, as she took great pleasure in helping her children and grandchildren make their homes feel just as special.
An avid gardener, Kay looked forward to planting new bulbs each year and watching them bloom. She delighted in the simple beauty of flowers and the birds that gathered among them. One of her greatest joys was cooking with her grandchildren, creating memories in the kitchen, and passing down traditions with every recipe.
Above all, Kay was devoted to her family. She had a remarkable gift for making each person feel seen, loved, and supported. Whatever your passion was, Kay was your biggest cheerleader. In her final days, she found peace and happiness in looking through photos of those she loved most.
She is survived by her children, Dawn (Russ) Dixon, Luke (Mandy) Askins, Amanda (Jeff) Franks, and Andrea (John) Thorpe; grandchildren, Emma (Logan) Smith, Will Franks, Andrew Dixon, Alex Dixon, Anna Askins, Lily Askins, Ada Askins, Abbie Dallmann, David Dallmann, Claire Thorpe, JJ Thorpe, and Charlie Thorpe; and one great-granddaughter, Hallie Kay Smith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Roy “Bill” Askins, Jr.; and her brother, Richard Edward Lane.
Memorial donations may be made to Fayetteville First United Methodist Church, 210 N. Elk Avenue, Fayetteville, TN 37334, or the WCHS – Terry Franks Memorial Scholarship Fund, 707 S. Main Street, Waynesboro, TN 38485.
Higgins Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Nancy Kay Lane Askins.
