Dan Rather’s wife, Jean Rather, died at age 89 after a battle with cancer, family friends announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
“Today is the saddest day for Dan and the Rather family,” the post read. ‘Jean Rather, Dan’s wife, passed away at her home in Austin, Texas, early this morning.
Jean, who was married to the iconic journalist, 93, for 67 years, “had been in palliative care for some time, but the news is still a shock to those of us who knew and loved her.”
The statement continued: ‘Please keep the Rathers in your thoughts. Jean lived a full life as an incredible wife, mother, friend and artist…and a true Texan.’
An obituary published by the family noted that Jean was “surrounded by loving family and friends and her beautiful artwork” at the time of her death on Tuesday.
The family said Jean’s “cause of death was cancer.”
Dan Rather’s wife, Jean Rather, has died at the age of 89 after a battle with cancer, family friends announced in a Facebook post Tuesday. Photographed in 2013 in New York.
Jean and Dan, photographed in 2017 in New York, shared a 67-year marriage.
Jean’s family noted in the obituary that she was “a highly accomplished artist” whose “paintings and collages were exhibited in galleries and private collections throughout the United States.”
“He attended art classes at American University and Mary Mount Manhattan College,” the obituary said. “Through careful study of paintings and sculptures by master artists in museums in England, France, Italy, Russia, Israel, Greece, Turkey and Southeast Asia, Jean created a unique contemporary philosophy and style.”
Jean had been a New York City painter member and vice president of the Art Commission for a period of eight years, her family said.
Jean had also been affiliated with nonprofit organizations such as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, UT Press and the Harry Ransom Center, according to her family.
Jean is survived by her husband, Dan; son Danjack and partner Ann Prunty, and grandson Martin; daughter Robin and partner, Mike Marler and grandson Andy; “And many members of the great Wallace, Zimerhanzel and Rather families,” the obituary said.