Retired public servant Flora ‘Flo’ Boles passes away

BROOKSVILLE – A public servant in Hernando County of 22 years died Thursday just four years after her retirement.

Flora E. “Flo” Boles was a Hernando County employee for 22 years, retiring in 2009 as the Risk Manager.

Boles’ health declined soon after retirement, and she died Thursday at Heartland of Brooksville, where she had resided for nearly two years.

Boles served as Hernando County’s Risk Manager from 2002 -09, and prior to that worked in the Department of Public Works, as well as the Budget Office.

“Everyone who knew Flo remembers her great sense of humor, her compassion and her ability to ‘tell it like it is,'” the county wrote in a release Monday. “She always had the county’s best interests in mind when making any decisions, and was relied upon for her professional expertise in the area of risk management.”

Boles’ accomplishments earned many commendations, awards and praise, notably being selected to represent Florida as a guest speaker at the National Public Risk Management Association conference in 1992, receiving commendations from the Florida Department of Labor and Employment Security, and receiving the coveted Public Risk Management Association Chapter Service Award.

Boles served for 10 years as a Florida Public Risk Management Association officer, where she developed an effective loss control and prevention program for Hernando County, according to the release.

“Flo will be greatly missed by her many friends and colleagues, both locally and elsewhere throughout Florida with whom she networked,” the release said.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Grace World Outreach Church, 20366 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville.

Flowers may be sent to the church, and contributions can be made to Heartland of Brooksville, 575 Lamar Ave., Brooksville, FL 34601.