Lorea Ann Brown

Lorea Ann (Lori) Brown of Middletown, NY passed away on November 30, 2025. She was 71.

Lori was born on November 12, 1954 in Middletown, NY to Donald and Charlotte Keller (Soderblom). A born farm girl, Lori was a great lover of animals and a natural hard worker. She attended high school at Garden State Academy in New Jersey, where she was the class president and well-known trouble maker. 

After graduation in 1972, Lori headed home to Middletown, where she attended Orange County Community College for accounting and worked at The Country Gardener, her family’s business.

Lori met her husband, Jeffrey, in January of 1971, while still in high school. Even though he remained in south Jersey during the course of their courtship, they made it work and married in May of 1976. Marriage tends to lead to children, in which they had two, Adrienne and Daniel.

Looking for a change, the family moved to California in 1981. Lori took a job at the University of Loma Linda’s Campus Store while attending Crafton Hills College at night to complete her accounting degree. After graduation she was promoted to Purchasing Agent at the University of Loma Linda. She oversaw many large projects while there and worked her way up to Senior Purchasing Controller. 

After ten years in California, the Brown Family moved back to Middletown to open Maples Farm & Garden Center. This joint brother and sister venture was successful for over 30 years. Lori focused on the store, the books, and helping her father with his farming business. Maples Farm became a major focus in Lori’s life and she took great pride in it.

There are so many aspects to Lori that weren’t appreciated enough. She was selfless, always willing to help family and friends, even if they didn’t notice. She was an absolute workhorse, teaching her children to hold their own and take pride in themselves and their work. She was incredibly intelligent, and held her business together during hard times. She was the backbone of her family.

She will be greatly missed by her husband, Jeffrey, her children, and her grandchildren, who will carry on her spirit through her lessons on dedication and perseverance. 

“There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever we are, you will always be in our hearts.”

All services are private. If you wish to make a donation in her name, please consider your local animal shelter.

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