Former
Rep. Jean Price, a Democrat who represented Great Falls for four terms
in the state House of Representatives, died Monday of pancreatic cancer.
She died at 4:55 a.m. Her daughter Darci was with her, Price’s friend and former campaign manager Carl Donovan said.
“She
had a great smile and I don’t think she ever met a stranger,” Donovan
said of Price. “She made everybody feel like they were her best friend.”
“I’m devastated but I am glad she is not pain,” he said.
He said Price taught art at Great Falls High School for 35 years.
Members
of the House Judiciary Committee were told about her death at the
beginning of their meeting by Rep. Kathy Kelker, D-Billings, who told
fellow lawmakers they had lost a dear friend.
Rep. Alan Doane, R-Bloomfield, who chairs the committee, called for a moment of silence.
The
cancer was discovered Sept. 6, a week before her 75th birthday and
shortly after she returned to Montana after visiting her daughter in
Anchorage, Price said in an earlier interview.
Donovan,
who said he knew Price for about 20 years, said she had been in the
hospital since Feb. 28. Funeral services and a memorial service are
pending.
One piece of legislation that Price was
particularly proud of was her bill that provided grants for towns to
acquire handicapped-accessible equipment for playgrounds, Donovan said.
“I’ll always think of the love she had for people and the state of Montana,” he said.
Gov. Steve Bullock said Price was an inspiration to her students and Great Falls.
"In
the Legislature, she always led with the care of others in mind –
whether it was making playgrounds more accessible for kids with
disabilities or supporting key measures that helped veterans, seniors
and students," he said in an email. "Jean was a good friend and a great
servant. Her passion for service and indomitable spirit will be deeply
missed."
House Minority Leader Casey Schreiner, D-Great Falls, echoed those sentiments.
“Jean
Price had an enormous heart and cared deeply for her home of Great
Falls,” Schreiner said. “Jean was a great educator and advocate for the
children and families of Montana, and a true friend who worked
tirelessly to give back to her community. She touched thousands of lives
and will be deeply missed by all of us who were blessed to know her.”
Mary Sheehy Moe, a former state lawmaker who now serves as a Great Falls city commissioner, said Price was her friend for more than 20 years. Price showed her the ropes when Moe was first elected to state office.
Mary Sheehy Moe, a former state lawmaker who now serves as a Great Falls city commissioner, said Price was her friend for more than 20 years. Price showed her the ropes when Moe was first elected to state office.
She also noted the
handicapped playground bill. But she said Price fought for Medicaid
coverage for orientation and mobility training for visually impaired
students. Moe said Price had a keen understanding of disability issues
as she was the only sibling, and, ultimately, surrogate mother, of a
child with Down syndrome.
She recently wrote a testimonial in support of Price being named Montana Mother of the Year.
Moe
wrote that throughout "her legislative career, Jean’s primary focus has
been providing opportunities and care for the least among us. She
served on session and interim education committees where she fought to
ensure that strong arts programs, services for students with special
needs (including the gifted and talented), and opportunities linked to
greater student success were protected and expanded.”
“For
eight years, she was a mentor and an inspiration to other legislators
(including me), providing wisdom, friendship, and unfailing support in
an environment that can be dismayingly dog-eat-dog,” Moe wrote. “As one
legislator remarked to me on the occasion of Jean’s retirement, ‘Jean
Price is probably the only person in this place who doesn’t have a
single enemy.”’
Although she served in the House as long as the law allows, it never went to Price's head, Moe said.
“She
was as far from being puffed up as a human being can be,” Moe said.
“She was the same person before, during, and after her time in elected
office.”
When Moe last saw her friend Friday, Price was unconscious. Moe was still grateful she was able to see Price one last time.
“The world is a smaller uglier place today,” Moe said. “She was a tiny woman, but very big in spirit.”
Veteran
journalist Phil Drake is our eye on the state capitol. For tips,
suggestions or comment, he can be reached at 406-231-9021 or
pdrake@greatfallstribune.com.
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