Lauren Finley

Lauren L. Finley, 69, died at home in Socorro, New Mexico, on February 11, 2025.

She was born on March 1, 1955, in Coronado, California, to Laurence Voss and Mary Plummer Voss. Raised in a military family with stepfather John Duplin, she attended Memphis State University in Tennessee before moving to Jacksonville, Florida, and working at Jax Navy Credit Union for several years. 

In 1981, she married David Finley, then of Miami. She earned a degree in electronics technology from Miami Dade College, and worked at a South Florida medical electronics firm. The couple later moved to Albuquerque, then Rhode Island, before settling in Socorro in 1992. They had a son, Andrew, while in Miami, and a daughter, Elizabeth, while in Albuquerque. 

In Socorro, Lauren founded, along with Barbara Carrington, The Christmas Store, at first a seasonal enterprise in the back of a beauty parlor. The store quickly grew to a popular year-round establishment that became a landmark on Manzanares Street. The store featured a wide variety of merchandise, and the pair took particular pride in crafting custom floral arrangements. She also was active in the Socorro County Chamber of Commerce, serving as president of that organization.

With Carrington's death, Lauren became sole proprietor of The Christmas Store. When she ultimately closed the full-time store, she joined the Alamo Gallery as its resident florist, providing floral arrangements throughout the area. She had a rare artistic talent and her arrangements drew frequent praise from customers. She loved her interactions with customers and took great satisfaction from seeing that her flowers could help brighten people's lives.

Her passion for flowers was exceeded only by her love and devotion to her family. Her favorite role was that of mother to her children and "Nana" to her grandchildren. She was happiest when surrounded by family members.

She was preceded in death by her father Laurence Voss, her mother Mary Duplin, her stepfather John Duplin, and her sister Deborah Voss. She is survived by her husband David Finley, son Andrew Finley and wife Samantha Cotton, daughter Elizabeth Finley and fiancé James Brewer, sister Christine Voss, brothers Alan Voss and wife Sandra, Steven Voss, and Roderick Duplin and wife Robin, and grandchildren Guy, Joseph, and Lily Finley.

A service will be held at Daniels Family Chapel, 309 Garfield Street, Socorro, at 1:00 p.m. on March 1, followed by interment at the Socorro Cemetery. A reception will be held from 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. at the Socorro Senior Center  1410 Ake Ave Socorro, NM 87801.