Katie McLane

Katie McLane, beloved daughter and sister, passed away on February 22, 2026, leaving behind a world made brighter by her presence. Born in Lansing, Michigan, she grew up in Charlotte before making her home in Traverse City, where she spent her days walking the peninsula, drawing pictures for everyone she loved, and living with a joy entirely her own.

Katie had Down syndrome. Those who loved her saw it not as a limitation but as a lens, one that brought into focus what the rest of us so easily missed. She found beauty in the simplest things: a bubble, a wildflower, a perfectly pepperoni-ed slice of pizza. She competed fiercely in the Special Olympics, danced to her own rhythm, and had a lifelong crush on Justin Bieber.

She was a grounding force for her family, breaking tension with perfectly timed humor and reminding everyone of what truly matters. Her smile was endless. Her laugh was contagious. Her love was unconditional.

In her final act, Katie gave the greatest gift of all as an organ donor. “Straight to Heaven,” she always said, and we have no doubt.

She is survived by her mother, MaryJo McLane of Traverse City; her father, Chris McLane, and his wife Debbie, of New Port Richey, Florida; her siblings Amie Dowker and her husband Wally Colón of Chicago, James McLane of Chicago, Michael and Beth McLane of East Grand Rapids, Chris and Marciann McLane of Madisonville, Tennessee, and Jesse and Brittany McLane of Etowah, Tennessee; her nieces Shelby and Baylee and nephews Christopher, Miles, Oliver, Owen, and Warren; and her beloved dog Cooper, who never left her side.