Norman Earl Lanier, 81, passed from his earthly life on Monday, July 20, 2026 following a courageous and valiant battle with cancer.

He was born March 2, 1945 at home in Pender County one of nine children born to Norman McCloud Lanier and Sidney Earl Walton Lanier. In addition to his parents Earl was preceded in death by his siblings, Rosamond Lanier Lowe, Norma Lee Lanier Scott, Willie Lanier, and Juanita Lanier Jones.

Earl was born and raised on his family farm on Shaw Hwy and was number eight out of nine children. He loved all of his brothers and sisters tremendously. In the last few months his brother, Raymond, who Earl shared a birthday with and his sister, Ethel Jane, would take him to the doctor appointments where Earl always had some kind of an adventure waiting for them. Earl cherished their time together.

On May 27, 1967 Earl married the love of his life, Sara Jane Horrell, from that moment they built a life and an unbreakable bond. During their 59 years together they had two sons, Michael and Clint, who were the apple of his eye, that is until his three grandchildren, Matthew, Grace, and Jacob came into his life. Earl’s world revolved around them whether they wanted a tractor ride, golf cart rides, hunting, fishing, or just to play Barbies Papa did it. Papa Earl had two great grandbabies, Jensen and Judson who were the light of his life, they made some of Earl’s toughest days better. Then there was Emily and Dakota who in Papa’s words were “My special granddaughters who I adopted in my heart.” Emily and Dacota would pick him up and take him for golf cart rides down the dirt road.

Earl wasn’t just a son, brother, friend, husband, dad, or Papa. He was a superhero. On May 27, 2020 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was given three months to live, but God and Earl had other plans. Earl in his superhero way fought for the last six years and gave it all he had to the very end.

Earl is survived by his beloved wife of 59 blessed years Sara Jane Horrell Lanier; sons, Michael Earl Lanier and Clint McCloud Lanier and his wife, Becky; grandchildren, David Matthew Pterson, Grace McCloud Lanier Clemmons, and Jacob Clint Thomas Lanier; great grandchildren, Jensen and Judsen Clemmons; grandchildren of the heart, Emily Hogg and Dakota Chavis; siblings, David Lanier (Merle), Julian Lanier, Ethel Jane Wells (Charles), and Raymond Lanier; many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be 5:00 p.m. Thursday July 23, 2026 at The Refuge at Coras Grove Church, 4875 Coras Grove Road, Watha, NC with the Rev. Dean Walker conducting the service. The family will receive friends at the church following the service.

At other times the family will be at the home of Clint and Becky Lanier.

Earl’s family would like to thank the staff of Novant Health Pender Medical Center for the excellent care, comfort and compassion given to Earl and to Earl’s family during his stay in the hospital.

In lieu of flowers the family suggest you consider a memorial gift to Atkinson Cemetery Fund C/O Denise Lewis, 219 Rankin Street, Atkinson, NC 28421 or to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.

Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family at www.quinnmcgowen.com

A service of Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home Burgaw Chapel.