Florence Lake (née Silverlake) was born on November 27, 1904,[citation needed] in Charleston, South Carolina.

Her parents later appeared in vaudeville in a skit "Family Affair", traveling throughout the South and Southwest United States.

Before acting in films, Lake was the leading lady for the Raynor Lehr stock theater company.

After the series ended with Kennedy's death in 1948, she continued to play character roles in films and television.

Lake played the role for the entire 10-year "farm seasons" of the show (1954–1964), thus becoming the Lassie player with the longest run on the series.