Karen McCarthy, 63, died peacefully at Garden Terrace at Overland Park, an Alzheimer’s center. She was a five term member of the Congress, spanning from 1994 to 2003. At 29, she was among the youngest of the women officeholders in the statehouse.
She was originally an English teacher who was first elected to the Missouri House. From that point onwards, her political career has been unbeatable.
As her news of her condition spread, tributes from all sides started pouring in.
She is remembered as a blazing
pioneer paving path for women in politics.
She has worked extensively on the areas of public education, women’s rights and
expansion of prescription-drug coverage under Medicare during her political
career.
She was once listed by the Harper’s Bazaar magazine as the potential first woman president.
She was a truly selfless and vibrant political figure who stood up for her beliefs in progressive causes. U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver remembers her principled stand against the war in Iraq.
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat, has memories of Karen McCarthy as an intelligent and strong woman who dealt with complex issues while in office. Even when faced with conditions which were less than optimal, she continued to give victories.
Her political career was tainted by a bout of alcoholism in 2003, for which she sought professional help. At the time she was also allegedly dealing with a bipolar personality disorder which had not been diagnosed previously. Family members announced in 2009 that she was suffering from Alzheimer’s. She had spent her final months in a nursing facility surrounded by the people she loved. She was unmarried and did not have any children.
No date has been announced for the memorial service due to be held.
