David Lane Stonecypher

David Lane Stonecypher, 65, of Somerset, KY, photographer, author, artist, and poet, passed away gently into eternity on February 2nd, 2023, surrounded by his loved ones, at Stanford Care and Rehabilitation in Stanford, KY.

He is survived by his sister, Lori Stonecypher Yeager, his brother, Mike Stonecypher, his nieces, Katie (Tim) Yeager; and Adrienne Anne Stonecypher, his nephews, Jordan Yeager; Joshua (Jenny) Yeager; and William Woods Stonecypher, his great-nephews, Jesse (Ashley) McLean; and Noah McLean, his great-niece, Kamaryn Diamond, his great-grandnephew, Landon McLean, his cousins, LeMoyne (Karen) Pilcher; and Kim Sweet, and a beloved nephew whom he raised as his own son, Jason Diamond.

He was preceded in death by his father, Eugene Brownlow Stonecypher, his mother, Ada Sue Diamond, his sister, Lisa Stonecypher, his brother, James David Stonecypher, and many beloved canine companions: Augie Doggy, Cole, Winnie, and Cocoa.

Lane was a 1975 graduate of Tates Creek High School in Lexington, KY. After spending years working as a mental health associate at Eastern State Psychiatric Hospital, he began his career at the Kentucky United Methodist Children’s home, serving as the Director of Substance Abuse Prevention Services. He was Program Manager of Connections Community Outreach, a mental health first aid instructor, and the author of SIGNALS (Setting Important Goals Now Against Life-threatening Substances), a teen substance abuse prevention curriculum and recipient of the 2007 Department of Health and Human Services Project Award.

Throughout his life, Lane always placed great value on the arts. While in high school, he began working as the light and sound technician for Apple, a band made up by his close friends. After, in the fall of 1976, he joined his cousin LeMoyne’s band, Cinch, and began to hit the road full time. From there, he and his best friend Grant continued to work with different bands: first Tara, then Coda, where he remained until his return to Kentucky in the early 90s.

Along with his love for music was his appreciation for art and poetry. In his words, his work as a painter and poet sought to enlarge discernment of meaning in the past, present, and future, creatively (the value of all that we create), experientially (when we are moved to splendor), and attitudinally (how even in the most confining circumstances, “the human spirit soars with the freedom to dictate our attitude”). In addition to the hundreds of poems he composed, he created numerous paintings, utilizing mixed media and both abstract and expressionist styles to comment on a wide range of social and psychological issues.

Lane remembered fondly his travels throughout Italy, having had the opportunity to see Rome, Venice, Florence, Alberobello, San Gimignano, and many other sites. Per his wishes, a portion of his remains will be scattered in the Ligurian sea near Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy.

The family requests expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to the Kentucky United Methodist Children's Homes, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, or the Simon House of Kentucky - c/o Pulaski Funeral Home P.O. Box 697 Somerset, Kentucky 42502.

Lane’s family invites all those who knew him to attend a celebration of life on April 8th from 1-3pm. at the Pulaski Funeral Home in Somerset, KY followed by a benediction at 3pm. Attendants should come ready to admire his art, hear his poetry, enjoy music, and honor a life that was lived to the fullest.

Pulaski Funeral Home is honored to assist the family with arrangements.