Sara Margaret Kays Brown, 85, of Nicholasville, wife of Ben F. Brown, passed away August 12, 2026 at Baptist Health Lexington.  A native of Anderson County, Kentucky, Sara was born on May 31, 1941 to the late J.B. Howard Kays and Gladys Hayden Kays.

Along with her parents, Sara was preceded in death by a brother, James Burton Kays.

Sara graduated from Western High School in 1959, was salutatorian of her senior class, a varsity cheerleader, active in many school clubs, and nominated by her classmates as Miss Rea Candidate, Miss Popularity, and candidate for Queen of the Nelson County Tobacco Festival.

She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences. Sara went on to work for Kentucky State Government in the Kentucky Department of Economic Security's Research and Statistics Section and as a social worker, and after raising her two children, she returned to work as a teacher's aide and substitute teacher for Jessamine County Public Schools.

Sara was an active member of Porter Memorial Baptist Church, and spent much time with the Porter Quilters, the Porter Memorial greeters, Porter's homebound ministry, and the Singing Saints. She had a beautiful solo voice, sang in her church choirs, and was asked to perform at many social occasions. Sara loved all animals, including the many dogs she and Ben had over the years, and never met an animal in distress that she didn't want to rescue and nurse to health, especially a baby squirrel that she took in, tamed, and named Earl.

Sara loved all her family members deeply, and they loved her back.  Including Ben, her husband of 57 years, Sara is survived by her son, Phillip Kays Brown and his wife Elizabeth Jones Brown of Louisville and their children: Joseph Daniel Jones Coy, Verity Ailis Jones Brown, Gabriel Graham Jones Brown, and John Lucian Jones Brown; her daughter, Sara Lindsey Brown Love and her husband Christopher Allen Love of Nicholasville and their children: Brandon Christopher (Hanna) Love, Peyton Wheeler Love, Asher Benjamin Love, and Avery Sara Love.   She is also survived by her sister, Mary Frances Kays Hutchinson and her husband Philip of Cumming, GA.

A time of visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 18th from 5 – 8 PM at Ritchie & Peach Funeral Home, 701 N. Main St., Lawrenceburg, KY.

Funeral service will be conducted on Wednesday, August 19th beginning at 1:00 PM at Porter Memorial Baptist Church, 4300 Nicholasville Rd., Lexington, KY.  Pastor Nick Sandefur will officiate the service.  Burial will follow in the Lawrenceburg Cemetery, Lawrenceburg, KY.  A time of visitation will be held prior to the service on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until the time of service at 1:00 PM at the church.

Serving as pallbearers will be Joseph Daniel Jones Coy, Gabriel Graham Jones Brown, John Lucian Jones Brown, Brandon Christopher Love, Peyton Wheeler Love, and Asher Benjamin Love.  Honorary bearers will be Philip Hutchinson, Greg Smith, Conway Smith, Bill Crawford, David Prigge, and Jerry Ball.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Sara Kays Brown are suggested to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or Bluegrass Care Navigators.

Arrangements are entrusted to Ritchie & Peach Funeral Home in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Condolences may be shared with the family at ritchieandpeach.com.