Jo Ann Brown Sorensen

Jo Ann Brown Sorensen (née Brown) was born on June 28, 1940, at the old Booth Hospital in Covington, Kentucky. She was the daughter of the late Joseph H. and Mildred Brown (née Allen). At an early age, her family moved to Hebron, Kentucky, where Jo Ann enjoyed a wonderful childhood growing up on the family farm. Jo Ann is survived by her loving husband, Edward; two children, Don (Kim) Wilson and Julie (Frank) Baker; two stepchildren, Kelli (Jamie) Archer and Sara (Kirk) Rienke; and her brother, Charles A. Brown. She was also blessed with nine beautiful grandchildren and one special great-granddaughter, Kayla. Jo Ann cherished traveling with her husband, with favorite destinations including Boothbay Harbor, Maine; Charleston and Folly Beach, South Carolina; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; New Orleans, Louisiana; and the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. She especially loved walks along the sandy beaches of South Carolina, exploring Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine, visiting Civil War battlefields, and spending time with family-always appreciating the beauty of sunrises and sunsets. She attended grammar school in Hebron and was proud to graduate from Boone County High School in 1958 as part of the first class to attend all four years at the then-new school. Jo Ann had a long and distinguished career. After graduating, she began working for Western & Southern Insurance. She later served in several key roles for the state of Kentucky, including at the Day Treatment Center in Crittenden, as the business manager of the women's prison in Belleview, and finally as the chief secretary for the Probation and Parole Department in Covington. Over her 35-year career with the Kentucky Corrections Cabinet, she received numerous honors, including the 1978 Commissioner's Award for "Exemplary Contribution to Corrections in Kentucky" and recognition as Outstanding Employee for "Service, Dedication, and Excellence" in both 1990 and 1998. In 1998, she was also awarded the American Red Cross "Help Can't Wait Award" for saving a choking child during an emergency. Her dedication to public service extended beyond her professional life. Jo Ann helped co-found Union Rescue as an EMT and later served with the Florence Rescue Squad, eventually becoming its chief. Following retirement, she continued giving back as a volunteer for over 23 years at the Dinsmore Homestead, where she led school tours and participated in special events. She hoped to inspire in young students a love for history and their local heritage. Jo Ann had a deep love for animals and was rarely without the companionship of a pet. She was a devoted member of the Florence Baptist Temple. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 22, at the Florence Baptist Temple, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. and the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jo Ann's memory to the Dinsmore Homestead