Kenneth Wayne Born

Kenneth W. Born, Sr., of Jay, Florida, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, August 25, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. 

Ken’s life was a life well-lived, having built five new houses during his life, and he has left a legacy in stone masonry all over Northwest Florida. He saved many lives during his years as a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician. Ken loved his family, and they are among his most precious "Legacies". He fought the good fight all the way to the end. 

Born in San Francisco, California on July 2, 1943, he and his family later moved to Kansas, where Ken graduated from Eudora High School in 1961. Shortly after graduating, he served his country for four years in the United States Air Force as a firefighter at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He loved the Northwest Florida area, and eventually ended up living most of his life in or around Okaloosa County.

After his discharge, Ken worked as a mason apprentice and later as a brick, block, and stone mason in Kansas. He moved to Niceville, Florida, a few years later, and started his own masonry business and stone company; running it for about ten years before returning to a decades-long career as a Civil Service firefighter at several locations around Okaloosa County and beyond. He retired from Civil Service in 2005. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Arvilla Born; his beloved wife and the only love-of-his-life for 55 years, Donna Rysedorph Born; a sister, Dianne Nichols; and a brother, Mike Born.

He is survived by his children, Kenneth W. Born, Jr. (Karen), Colette Mitchell (Chris), and Dawn Legge (Willie); nine grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; and his siblings, Marilyn Altemus, Phillis Stone, Doug Born, and Nancy Boyd; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends. 

A special thanks goes to Dr. Caleb Morton and the staff at Jay Medical, The Oncology department at Baptist Hospital, Dr. Jenelle Bennett, Amelia, Jule, and all the rest; you are true angels, and last but not least, Emerald Coast Hospice.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in his memory. 

All arrangments and services are under the care of Davis Watkins Crestview Memorial.