Dan Rather devastated as wife Jean Rather dies at 89 following health battle: 'The saddest of days'

Dan Rather's woman Jean Rather has died astatine the property 89 pursuing a conflict with cancer, friends of the household announced successful a Facebook station Tuesday.

'Today is the saddest of days for Dan and the extended Rather family,' the station read. 'Jean Rather, Dan’s wife, passed distant astatine their location successful Austin, Texas, aboriginal this morning.

Jean, who was joined to the iconic newsman, 93, for 67 years, 'had been connected hospice attraction for immoderate time, but the quality inactive comes arsenic a daze for those of america who knew and loved her.

The connection continued: 'Please support the Rathers successful your thoughts. Jean lived a afloat beingness arsenic an unthinkable wife, mother, friend, and creator - and a existent Texan.'

An obituary enactment retired by the household noted that Jean was 'surrounded by loving household and friends and her beauteous artwork' astatine the clip she passed distant Tuesday.

The household said that Jean's 'cause of decease was cancer.'

Jean's household noted successful the obit that she was arsenic 'a precise accomplished artist' whose 'paintings and collages were shown successful galleries and backstage collections crossed the United States.

'She attended creation classes astatine American University and Mary Mount Manhattan College,' the obit stated. 'Through cautious survey of maestro artists’ paintings and sculpture successful museums successful England, France, Italy, Russia, Israel, Greece, Turkey, and Southeast Asia, Jean created a unsocial modern doctrine and style.'

Jean had been New York City's Painter Member and Vice Chair of the Art Commission for an eight-year span, her household said.

Jean's 'many beloved friends person been fantastic companions, and their emotion and enactment meant the satellite to her,' the obit read. 

Jean had besides been affiliated with nonprofit organizations specified arsenic the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, UT Press, and the Harry Ransom Center, according to her family.

Dan Rather told People past twelvemonth that Jean was 'absolutely committed' to him passim his career, which kept him connected the roadworthy for agelong stretches aboriginal on.

'The archetypal twelvemonth I was with CBS News, I was location 41 days retired of the year,' Dan said. '41 days retired of the year. Very hard to clasp a matrimony and a household unneurotic then.'

Dan said Jean's 'fighting heart' and can-do mentality was a driving unit successful their marriage, which spanned much than six decades.

'"Whatever it takes, we're going to marque it work,"' helium said of her mentality. 'And possibly the redeeming grace was ... erstwhile I was home, I tried to deed the disconnected switch.

'I tried to marque each hr number with my children, Robin, my eldest, and Dan, my youngest. They grew up with it. And again, each recognition to Jean to whom I've been joined for 66 years now.'

The household said that successful lieu of flowers, 'a fantastic mode to remember' Jean would beryllium to donate to the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, based retired of Austin, Texas.

Jean is survived by her husband, Dan; lad Danjack and spouse Ann Prunty, and grandson Martin; girl Robin and partner, Mike Marler and grandson Andy; 'and galore members of the extended Wallace, Zimerhanzel, and Rather families,' the obit stated.