Lorene was born on April 25, 1937, in De Soto, Kansas to Charles Rex Roberts and Edna Penfold Roberts. She graduated from Lawrence High School and continued her education at the University of Kansas.
Lorene married Marion Hawk on August 30, 1958, and the couple moved to California. While living in California, Lorene worked for Hughes Aircraft Company and later as a homemaker. The family would return to Missouri where Lorene worked for Maple Woods Community College.
Lorene was a voracious reader, world traveler, and lover of dogs.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Marion; and her sister, Ann Helm.
Survivors include two daughters, Jan Lewis and Jean (David Davenport) Hawk; her brother, David (Linda) Roberts; her granddaughter, Erin Wilson; a nephew, Jason Helm; and her nieces, Jennifer Hulse and Amy Roberts.
Inurnment will be in Beatty, Kansas.