Wife of former U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander dies at age 77

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Leslee Kathryn Buhler Alexander, the spouse of former Tennessee governor and U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander and a longtime household and kid’s overall health advocate, has died at age 77, her household stated Sunday.

Identified as “Honey,” Alexander was surrounded by her family when she died Saturday at her dwelling outside the house of the Tennessee town of Maryville, her family members mentioned in a statement.

She was married for 53 years to Lamar Alexander, a Republican who served as Tennessee’s governor from 1979 to 1987, and campaigned for him all over his political occupation. He also served as U.S. education and learning secretary below President George H.W. Bush, ran for president and expended a few conditions in the U.S. Senate ahead of retiring in 2020.

While her partner was governor, Alexander led the statewide Healthy Kids Initiative, which sought to offer prenatal wellbeing care for kids. She was a member of the 1985-1986 Southern Regional Task Drive on Infant Mortality, the governor’s job forces on day treatment and youth alcoholic beverages and drug abuse, and the U.S. Health Secretary’s Council on Wellbeing Advertising and Condition Prevention, her family’s statement reported.

She also co-launched Leadership Nashville in 1976 and served on lots of boards, together with the Junior League of Nashville and the Hermitage. She also had been vice-chairman of the Company for Public Broadcasting and a board member of Spouse and children Assistance The united states and the Countrywide Archives Basis, the statement mentioned.

The Honey Alexander Center, positioned at the Nashville nonprofit Relatives and Children’s Provider, opened in 2019.

“Our expensive ‘Honey’ was humorous, loving, often caring, unselfish and courageous,” her household said in the assertion. “We are so fortunate to have spent our lives with her. We will overlook her just about every day.”

Honey Alexander was born Oct. 12, 1945, in Los Angeles. She was functioning for U.S. Sen. John Tower of Texas when she fulfilled her future husband, who was a staffer for U.S. Sen. Howard Baker Jr. of Tennessee, for the duration of a softball recreation amongst the two staffs in 1967, her family members claimed. They married in 1969.

Honey Alexander preferred to jog, plant bouquets and examine historic novels, her relatives said. She also loved to expend time with her young children and grandchildren, her household reported.

She will be remembered at a non-public graveside service for family associates and at a memorial company to be held later on at Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville, the family members explained.