Profiles in presence: K’Lynn lane
Interview with K’Lynn Lane IN HER OWN WORDS:
End-of-life doulas come to this field from varied backgrounds and personal stories. We represent many ages and stages of life, cultural and geographical backgrounds. This month, we introduce K’Lynn Lane, a rural Oregonian with her own story and an ideal profession in which to practice the gifts of her doula training.
“I was born and raised in a little community called Condon (population: 750), a frontier community in eastern Oregon. Even as a little girl, I was always fascinated with elders, and they were those who we knew to love, respect and help out, trying to make sure they were okay. It’s a culture of belonging in our community, and I knew from an early age that this was special and unique. My very first volunteer experience in third grade was in our assisted living facility, visiting and spending time with the elders there. Looking back, after exploring other careers I realize that I was right where I was supposed to be and never felt more at home than when I was working with our elders.”
K’Lynn worked in the facility as a teen, moved away for college and explored other parts of the west and then realized that home was where she truly wanted to be. Fourteen years ago, she moved back to Condon and has never looked back. “I’m a square peg in a square hole! I need to be around community, around people that I know where I can build deep connection, with a culture that is loving and kind. We really focus on our aging community being able to stay there, whether that’s being able to live in their houses longer, or finding a transition to better space. It’s hard for them and it’s also hard for their families.” For twelve years as Chamber of Commerce Director, K’Lynn described that her mission was to create an atmosphere where everyone felt at home throughout their life cycle.
A few years ago, K’Lynn realized that she wanted to feel more comfortable with death and dying. She wanted to be able to have open conversations with her parents, to show up at funerals and other hard times with comfort in her heart for being there, and felt she didn’t have the tools to help. Additionally, in her present role as a Community Strategist at The Ford Foundation K’Lynn relates: “I wanted to show up more with my heart and less with my head. I learned about The Peaceful Presence Project (TPPP) and was asked to share information about an upcoming training. After talking with TPPP staff and learning more about the end-of-life doula role, taking the training myself felt like an answer to a calling.” K’Lynn took the spring 2026 professional doula training. (Grants are available to help people living in rural Oregon take this training - see below)
“The class was transformative to me. Afterwards, I felt grounded in knowing that a good death and dying beautifully is possible. I learned that I can just show up and that, instead of having to have that “play book” in hand, the inner knowledge comes from the heart. It starts right there; showing up and being there. I can do those things! The training has given me new permission to lead, to be there with the confidence, assurance and curiosity I now have. I also have a network; I can reach out to TPPP staff or a member of my cohort for support. I feel like a whole new world has opened up for me! I feel inspired and elevated in my role, knowing now how to help people with these needs.”
K’Lynn relates that in Gilliam, Sherman, and Wheeler counties reside some of the longest living residents in Oregon. As a Community Strategist, K’Lynn wants to be a community builder/maintainer that honors their unique needs: “We recognize that a sense of place and a feeling of belonging are really important in our rural places.” To start, K’Lynn plans to start holding Connection Cafe’s in the towns within her region, building support and finding out what the needs are from those experiencing illness or caregiving demands. “I want to hold some Community Advance Directive Days at events and festivals; I want to be an advocate and ambassador for our aging residents; I want to create healthy conversations around a good death experience for people in our communities.” As a community strategist and connector, helping put action plans in place for residents to realize goals and fulfill un-met needs, K’Lynn is in the perfect role to set all of these wheels in motion.
In her personal life, K’Lynn also feels more open and confident when it comes to having hard conversations with her kids. With her new-found confidence she has modeled that “curiosity around death and dying is actually a good thing. Creating a space where my kids felt safe enough to ask questions about it feels really rewarding. . . I had a lot of questions as a girl that weren’t answered and I want to change that.” When K’Lynn has a bit of free time, she can be found refereeing basketball and taking photographs.
The Peaceful Presence Project is very excited about the impact K’Lynn is already creating as a doula and ambassador for the doula model of care in Eastern Oregon. Thank you, K’Lynn!
**As a reminder, once or twice a year, TPPP offers grant-funded scholarships for selected rural residents in Oregon who are interested in completing our full End-of-Life Doula Training. If this is something you’re interested in, we encourage you to check back regularly for updates about upcoming rural-focused training opportunities.
