Emmy Lou Sorum, 84, of Fernandina Beach, FL passed away Tuesday evening, July 25, 2023 at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville.
An informal celebration of Emmy Lou's life will be held at the Amelia Museum of History, September 15th, 1-3:30 pm. Please bring your memories and your joy. Boa Babes, please come in your Red Hat attire! In lieu of flowers, please donate to Cats' Angels, Mica's Place, or Barnabas' Food Bank.
Amelia Museum of History
223 South 3rd Street
Fernandina Beach
Please park behind the museum.
Emmy Lou Hickox Sorum - Named by her elder sister after the character in a book of the same title, Emmy Lou began her last adventure July 25th, 2023, after a very sudden illness. Her love of travel had been greatly curtailed the past few years due to body parts wearing out, but before leaving for this final journey, she visited every continent, and enjoyed many of the wonders of our world with the childlike enjoyment and open heart that won her new friends in so many places. She rode ships, planes, trains, helicopters, horses, camels, and elephants; not at the same time, of course. She could barter in any monetary denomination (and win), and her intellect often surprised people as it was hidden by her love of chatting with, well, anyone. She knew no strangers. She adored long phone calls with her friends. Emmy Lou loved live theatre and concerts, and was thrilled by the quality of local performers. Music was her drug of choice and kept her high for several hours after the performances. She loved eating out with friends and over-tipped out of respect for those who maintained a friendly smile while being tempted by the ready availability of hot coffee pots and butter knives. She also loved unusual obituaries; this one’s in honor of you, Mum! Her greatest pleasure was cooking large holiday meals for family and friends, and she set a beautifully memorable table…often weeks in advance. During her life she was a nurse, wife, mother, pharmacy tech, CEO and CFO of Shelby Radiation Labs, Red Hat Queen, supportive confidant, held a DOD Secret Security Clearance (which hangs in the garage next to the garden tools), world traveler, and above all, she was a wonderful person with a loving heart and wicked sense of humour. She was born the second of two girls to Leonora and Lori Hickox of Sheboygan, WI. She survived the Depression, breast cancer, a triple bypass, her (ex)husband, her daughter's teen years, a terrifying mother-in-law, living in a snow-bound single-wide trailer, and residing in California, New Mexico, and Florida. Yes, earthquakes to hurricanes by way of blizzards. Her favorite country was New Zealand, her favorite city was London, although she really loved Amelia Island and I suspect she will return often to visit. Those who were fortunate enough to find their love returned by her are her daughter, cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, godson, and a myriad of friends. Waiting to give her a tour on her latest vacation are her mother, sister, favorite aunt and uncle, her daughter's godparents, and her adoring grandparents, as well as many beloved friends. We, her family, would like to thank all her doctors and their staff for their kindness and attention. We would especially like to recognize the doctors, nurses, and assistants at Baptist Healthcare and MD Anderson who worked so hard to make her comfortable in her last hours. These incredible people made a terrible time more bearable. As her daughter, I would also like to add that being her caretaker was an honor, never a duty. Being her child was a priceless gift. Living with her as caretaker, chauffeur, and rubber-onner of muscle crème meant daily laughter, hugs, and constant love. Please remember her not in tears or blossoms, but with love disguised as donations to her favorite charities; Cats' Angels, Barnabas Food Pantry, and Mica's Place in Fernandina Beach, FL. She is, and will continue to be, acutely missed. Her very casual Celebration of Life is set for her 85th birthday on September 15, 2023 at the Amelia Museum of History (Downtown where Cedar St ends), 1-3:30 pm. Thank you all for being such wonderful additions to my mother's life. -Ricia (Trish) Sorum