Judge Ray Corns passed away peacefully Monday, October 16, 2023.
He was born March 19, 1934, at Epworth.
Ray graduated from Tollesboro High School, Berea College, and the Cumberland School of Law. While at Berea he met and married Patsy Daniels and they had two children, Autumn Barber of Lexington and April Knox of California.
In addition to his first wife and daughters, survivors include one grandson, Daniel Barber, and granddaughter, Brooke Barber; his brother, Samuel Corns of Ohio; longtime friend, James Knox of Versailles; and his special friend, Catherine Staib of Lexington.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Frances Holt Corns; his siblings, Paul, Candy, and Joneva; and his second wife, Elizabeth (Adams) Corns.
Judge Corns began his legal career as legal advisor to Governors Bert T Combs and Edward Breathitt from 1959-1967. He also served as Chief Legal Counsel to the Kentucky Department of Education for 19 years before serving as Frankfort/Franklin County’s Juvenile Judge, Commonwealth’s Attorney (1975-1982), and Circuit Judge (1983-1990). He later served as Kentucky State Police Commissioner and Special Circuit Judge for 20 Kentucky counties.
Judge Corns is best remembered for handing down the far-reaching judicial decision that resulted in the passing of the Kentucky Educational Reform Act (KERA) in 1990 by ruling that Kentucky’s current method of school finance failed to provide all of Kentucky’s public schools with substantially equal educational opportunities. The Kentucky Supreme Court upheld the decision in 1989 agreeing with Judge Corns’ ruling and setting the stage for the state legislature to take action and equalize school district funding.
Judge Corns was a respected speaker and humorist. He performed a short warm-up comedy routine for the Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour for 19 years.
To quote Judge Corns from his Woodsongs days, “Just like Elizabeth Taylor told each of her husbands, ‘I won’t keep you long.’” His legacy however, with the passage of KERA, will be long-lasting.
Ray always said he wanted to put the fun back in funeral. He loved bright colors. If you want to wear bright colors to the visitation and funeral, it will be a nod to Judge Ray Corns.
Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Nicholasville.
Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home on Harrodsburg Road in Lexington.
Entombment will be in Bluegrass Memorial Gardens.
