Lorraine Dean Reynolds

Lorraine was born on September 5, 1933 in Old Lyme, the daughter of Francis and Elizabeth Dean. She is predeceased by her husband Advah Reynolds Jr. (2014) and her son Advah H. Reynolds III (2021).

Lorraine was born and raised in Old Lyme. Her ancestors owned farm land that triangled where Sill Lane meets Route 1 to Mill Pond. She loved sharing stories of her time growing up here and watching Hillside Road develop into a neighborhood. She would sell vegetables on Route 1 to people stuck in evening traffic. Her father taught her to operate and maintain all the trucks and farm equipment. Her mother taught her to sew and how to be a seamstress. By 13 she was working at the stone clothing mill on Sill Lane, where her mother worked.

She graduated from Old Lyme Center School in 1951, which at the time was the only school for all 12 grades. During her high school years she loved staying busy and she was Head Majorette. She designed and helped make their new uniforms. She took extra classes to learn short hand, typing and other office keeping classes. She was a shoe fanatic who loved wearing heels. She had a collection of heels and purses that matched outfits and dresses that she designed and made for herself. She felt so much pride in being independent and knowing how to do things for herself.

During the first 20 years of their marriage her husband was in the Navy. They traveled from station-to-station, eventually getting a modular home in New York and moving that home back to Old Lyme in 1963. Her house was placed next to her parents' house on Hillside Road. It was here that her husband finished out his Navy career as Chief of the Boat. Making Lorraine the head contact and support for the wives and families of the boat. She raised her 2 children here as well as caring for her parents.

Lorraine and Red started camping and fell in love with it. They joined NAFCA and traveled the entire country in their campers. This is where she started her infamous baked bean recipe, always sharing stories of "the bean man" and her secret to making them so good. Usually followed by stories of her camping excursions and how she rode motorcycles.

But her love for driving large vehicles is how she ended up driving the school bus for Old Lyme. The bus manager had seen her driving the camper and begged her to drive the school bus. She started as a fill in and moved up to manager and trainer. She remapped bus routes for multiple towns to make the route easier and safer for the drivers. She planned bus safety courses for children. To say she loved her career was an understatement.

She marched, as Head Majorette, over the reopening of the Balwin Bridge when she was in high school, and then drove the bus over the reopening parade in the 90s. In the mid 60s she was hit by a drunk driver on that same bridge and threw herself into the windshield to protect her children. Almost every aspect of her life was attached to this town. She was born here, raised here, raised her own children here, helped raise her grandchildren here, helped raise her great grandchildren here, she, her husband and her parents died here. Lorraine was a force to be reckoned with. Our family is lost without our fire cracker matriarch.

Heiney on the vinyl!!!

Lorraine is survived by her daughter Heidi Crowley and James Casula of Westbrook, CT, daughter-in-law Denise Reynolds of Buxton ME, Grandchildren: Joshua and Stacia McPherson, Brandy and Tim Arpin, Jessica and Grant Illenberg, Sean Crowley, Tiffany and John Panarese, Jason and Libby Reynolds, Melissa and Ted Lacey, and Advah and Alicia Reynolds IV, Stacey Solis and Billy. She has 24 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.

Calling Hours will be held on Thursday, May 11, 2023 from 4:00-6:00pm in Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, 13 Beckwith Ln., Old Lyme, CT 06371.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.fultontherouxoldlyme.com for the Reynolds family.