Laurane Thorn

Mary Laurane Thorn was born April 16, 1925 in Chicago IL, to Frances Barge and David Preston Clemmer. She was two months shy of her 99th birthday when she matriculated from hospice care in Fort Collins CO on February 18, 2024 for her 4th and final time. Her survivors include daughters Pat (Joel) Hayward, and Cara Priem, along with grandchildren Torin Priem, Shannon Priem (Jason deTurris), Travis (Nikkie) Hayward, and Jay Hayward.

She grew up in Chicago, IL, but spent 5th grade and a year of high school living with the family of her younger cousin, Pat, in Brookhaven MS. After graduating with a BS in Business (Accounting) at Northwestern University, she met Robert G. Thorn, to whom she was married for 60 years until his death in 2010. Bob’s work brought the family to Louisville KY, Niagara Falls, NY and Metuchen, NJ, just 45 minutes by train from NYC. They spent 25 years there, taking advantage of the City culture as much as possible since the train station was only 200 steps from their home. After retiring, Bob and Laurane spent winters near Kerrville, Texas and summers in Colorado to be near their daughters’ families.

A professional musician for 35 years, she played upright bass with the Chicago (IL), Louisville (KY) and Plainfield (NJ) Symphonies. The Louisville Symphony was one of the finest in the country at the time, and she was part of that elite group of musicians, recording and performing original works around the country. She served as the accountant and bookkeeper for the Spanish-speaking Eastern division of the Church of God. She learned just enough Spanish to get by and enjoyed the convenience of having to walk less than a block to get to work.

Volunteerism was a core value for Laurane, and she volunteered her quilting and sewing talents for cancer patients, sewing turbans and making quilts for Project Linus. In Texas she provided free tax preparation for low-income families through the Volunteer Tax Assistance program (VITA), and she played handbells in her church choir for many years until moving to Colorado to live full time.

Never one to just sit around, Laurane was an avid lap swimmer, yoga practitioner, bicyclist, advanced square dancer, and even continued to walk two miles/day into her 80s. She produced over 300 quilted pieces in her retirement years, including bed quilts, wall hangings, clothing, outerwear, and gifts of many forms. She was also a member of the Rocky Mountain Creative Quilters (CO) and the Hill Country Quilt Guild (TX).

Her friends and family will remember her best for her feisty attitude, quick wit, colorful wardrobe, and fervent grammar prescriptivism.

A memorial service will be held on March 16, 2024, 2:00 pm at First Presbyterian of Fort Collins (FPFC) with a reception to follow. Laurane’s favorite color was blue, so feel free to add some color to your wardrobe if attending. In order to protect our at-risk friends, we ask that you wear a mask if able. Charitable donations be made in her name to FPFC. Funds collected will then be distributed to the Church’s community outreach and music programs.