LORRAINE ELIZABETH THORN March 31, 1934 – May 23, 2025

Lorraine Elizabeth Thorn (née Patten) lived a life that was anything but ordinary. Born in Michigan on March 31, 1934, to Olive Susan McCarty and Paul George Patten, Lorraine charted a path of intellect, independence, and adventure.

She graduated with honors from Michigan State University in 1956 with a degree in Chemistry, a rare and remarkable achievement for a woman of her time. Her early career brought her to Denver, where she worked for Dow Chemical and became an enthusiastic member of the Schussbaumer Ski Club, embracing the Colorado mountains with passion and joy.

It was while skiing in Taos that Lorraine met Robert N. Thorn, who would become her husband and partner in the next chapter of her life. He brought her to Los Alamos, New Mexico, where she continued her scientific career at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Lorraine loved skiing, hiking, camping, wildflowers, and the adventure of travel. She also found immense joy in giving back, volunteering at both the local library and the senior center in Los Alamos.

She is survived by her daughter, Andrea Thorn; granddaughter, Carly Lichty; and stepchildren: Karen Thorn, Kyle Wheeler, Gretchen Faucett, and Nick Thorn. Each carries their own reflections of Lorraine, shaped by a life that was anything but simple.

Like many lives well lived, Lorraine’s story defies simple summary. She was intelligent, fiercely independent, and complex – but she was always unmistakably herself. In remembering her, we honor her journey: the beauty, the contradictions, and the moments that left an imprint.

May she rest among the wildflowers on the slopes she loved.