Jean Carnahan, Missouri’s First Female Senator, Dies at 90

MISSOURI (The Lake Tribune) Former U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan, a trailblazing figure in Missouri politics, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 90. Carnahan, a Democrat, made history as the first female senator from Missouri, appointed in 2001 following the posthumous election of her husband, Governor Mel Carnahan.

The Carnahan family released a statement saying, “Mom passed peacefully after a long and rich life. She was a fearless trailblazer. She was brilliant, creative, compassionate, and dedicated to her family and her fellow Missourians.” The family did not disclose the cause of death but mentioned that she died after a brief illness in a hospice facility in suburban St. Louis.

Born on December 20, 1933, in Washington, D.C., Jean Carnahan grew up in the nation’s capital, the daughter of a plumber and a hairdresser. She met her future husband, Mel Carnahan, at a church event and later in high school. They married on June 12, 1954. Jean Carnahan graduated from George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in business and public administration and raised four children with her husband on a farm near Rolla, Missouri.

She served as Missouri’s first lady following Mel Carnahan’s election as governor in 1992. Tragically, on October 16, 2000, Governor Carnahan, their son Roger, and an aide died in a plane crash. Three weeks later, Mel Carnahan was elected posthumously, and acting Governor Roger Wilson appointed Jean Carnahan to fill her husband’s Senate seat.

Senator Jean Carnahan’s tenure lasted from January 3, 2001, to November 25, 2002. Her service marked a significant moment in Missouri’s political history, representing not only a personal triumph but also a milestone for women in politics.

Her passing marks the end of an era in Missouri politics, and she is remembered for her dedication, compassion, and pioneering spirit in public service.

Follow The Lake Tribune on Facebook for More Reliable News in Your Feed