FRANKFORT, Ky. — Dozens of friends, family and former coworkers paid their respects to the late Governor John Y. Brown Jr. Tuesday.
Brown died last week at the age of 88. Tuesday, a public viewing was held in the Capitol rotunda.
His casket, draped in a Kentucky flag, sat in front of a statue of Abraham Lincoln. Throughout the day, Kentucky state troopers stood watch, changing every 15 minutes.
Flags at the capitol and all state buildings have been lowered to half-mast.
The former governor’s son, John Y. Brown III, shared what it means to hear stories of his father from those who attended the viewing.
“Today what has really lifted me up and touched me is the wonderful, personal stories and that’s who he really was and I think that’s the way he would like to be remembered the most,” Brown said.
Brown added his father was always someone you wanted to be around and was in good spirits all the way to the end.
“He was just someone who loved his state, he loved people and he loved life, and even as he got older and his life was very limited he was excited every day about whatever little thing he was doing and if I can even have a fraction of that, I’m going to have a richer life. And to the extent that others can learn that lesson, they’ll be better for it,” Brown said.
Those who attended shared fond memories of Brown, including Ann Evans, executive director of the governor’s mansion.
“He loved life, he loved people and when you talked to him, you could be in a room of 200 people, but when he talked to you, you were the only person in the room,” Evans said.
Evans says she had known the former governor for decades and their families knew each other.
“I tell you once you knew him you never forgot him because he not only was one of the kindest people I know, but the nice thing about it is he was also a character and a rascal, and I think those three qualities are just, it’s just perfect,” Evans said.
The Democrat governor served in the position from 1979 to 1983. He is also known for the success of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Brown was the co-owner of the fast-food chain before selling his stake in the company in 1971.
Wednesday a private memorial service will be held at the state Capitol. The building will close at 11 a.m. and not reopen until Thursday morning. This service can be watched on Kentucky Educational Television.