In Remembrance & Celebration of Lana Deering

We are sad to note that on June 20, 2022, the local community, friends, family and Animal Outreach lost a longtime supporter, friend, spouse, volunteer and genuinely lovely person. Lana Deering’s passing is felt by all that knew her. Along with the sadness of her passing, we also hold much joy at the decades of memories we hold of her involvement in our lives and passions. 

Lana first became acquainted with Animal Outreach 26+ years ago, during its early days. At that time it was very small and almost an all-volunteer organization. She was able to combine her love of animals and her working knowledge of finance/bookkeeping to fulfill multiple functions for the organization. For many years, until the time of her retirement in December, 2021, she volunteered with Animal Outreach as Bookkeeper, Board Member and Treasurer for the Board of Directors. 

During her many years volunteering with Animal Outreach she was a significant contributor to the growth and stability of the organization, and touched the lives and hearts of many people and animals along the way.  She helped bring Animal Outreach from a small, mostly volunteer organization, to a large spay/neuter clinic, animal rescue, and multi-site adoption facility with a paid staff and hundreds of volunteers and fosters. Along the way there were occasional times of doubt, limited finances and resources as Animal Outreach grew and thrived. Through it all, Lana maintained her confidence and enthusiasm that Animal Outreach would grow and succeed, and instilled that belief in others.

Never one to sit back, Lana always jumped in any time help was needed. She believed no job was too big or small for her to help with, and that teamwork was key to success.  In addition to being the Bookkeeper, Treasurer, and other Board duties, she could be found helping in the thrift store (which existed in the earlier days), doing adoptions either at the main facility or off-site locations, helping in the shelter with kitty care, laundry, or cleaning the facility or cat boxes, helping other office and reception staff with their duties, helping customers or fosters in any way she could and participated in all fundraiser activities. On top of this, she and her husband Tom found time to foster many, many cats and kittens throughout the years, including a few foster-fails – which they adopted.

Through it all, Lana kept things in perspective and focused on the important things, with an emphasis on saving as many animal lives as possible. Her financial acumen helped the organization become and stay financially stable, and her love and joy of helping animals and working with others to achieve that end, helped Animal Outreach save many lives, and made her an inspiration to others.  She lifted the spirits of those around her with her kind words and brought joy to many. 

We celebrate Lana for her patience, courage, humor, grace, joy and love, and her many years of service to Animal Outreach. She meant so much to so many people and animals, and touched so many in ways we will never forget. We were blessed to have her as part of our lives.

May her spirit, the wonderful memories and her love be with us always.