Jean Carnahan remembered as senator, mom and St. Louis foodie

ST. LOUIS — Family and friends remembered the late U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan on Saturday for her wit, good humor, curiosity, kindness and hard work.

Her children and grandchildren called her a fearless trailblazer, noting her tenacity and generosity amidst adversity.

“Even though her 90-year-old body was failing, her mind was sharp,” one of her sons, former U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, told the hundreds gathered at The Sheldon Concert Hall for her public memorial. “Maybe sharper than ever before.” 

In the last few days before her death, he said, she told her family she was ready to go.

“And of course, mom had a file for this day,” he said of the memorial. It contained a list of “mere” suggestions she wrote for her service.

“So welcome,” he said, “to the service mom planned.”

Carnahan died on Jan. 30 in hospice care in Creve Coeur after a short illness. She was 90.

Carnahan became the first woman from Missouri to serve in the U.S. Senate after her husband, two-term Gov. Mel Carnahan, died in a plane crash weeks before the 2000 election along with their son, Randy, and campaign adviser Chris Sifford. She told Missouri voters that she would take the seat should voters elect her husband posthumously over Republican incumbent John Ashcroft.

She served two years in the Senate, and had seats on committees on commerce, governmental affairs, aging, small business and armed services. She was with the Congressional delegation that traveled to Afghanistan after 9/11 to meet with world leaders. She later lost a bid for election in her own right, to Republican Jim Talent.

While she was Missouri’s first lady, Carnahan opened the Governor’s Mansion to the public and advocated for causes like childhood immunization, abuse centers, arts education and Habitat for Humanity.

After leaving the Senate, Carnahan helped her children in their political careers. Russ Carnahan served in the Missouri House and U.S. Congress and is now chairing the Missouri Democratic Party. Daughter Robin Carnahan was Missouri secretary of state for eight years and now directs the U.S. General Services Administration. In 2021, President Joe Biden appointed the youngest Carnahan son, Tom, as one of the U.S. representatives at the 76th United Nations General Assembly.

On Saturday, her family remembered her as a mother, grandmother, Sunday school teacher, artist, community organizer, political adviser and writer. She was the author of seven books and an avid food blogger later in life, a hobby many mentioned while eulogizing.

Carnahan’s granddaughter Addie Carnahan, 14, spoke about spending time in the kitchen together preparing meals or testing recipes for her blog, GoodFoodSTL.com.

“Grandma loved a busy, chaotic kitchen filled with people,” Addie said during the memorial service. “She would also take a lot of pictures and I knew I had to look good because it would probably be on the blog the next day.”

Along with tears, the concert hall was full of laughter as loved ones shared memories of Carnahan’s humor and ability to find joy in life.

Roy Temple, Carnahan’s former chief of staff, told a story about how former President Bill Clinton invited Carnahan and her husband to stay in the Lincoln bedroom of the White House. Temple said Carnahan told him Mel had forgotten his pajamas.

“She then proceeded to tell me that she thought it would be hilarious if I were to leak that human interest tidbit to Jerry Berger, the gossip columnist,” Temple said to laughter.

Speakers on Saturday included the Rev. Emanuel Cleaver II, a Democratic U.S. representative from Kansas City, and Carnahan grandchildren Austin, Andrew, Addie, 14, Harper, 16 and Coco, 12. Musical performances were led by acclaimed jazz singer Denise Thimes.

Food made by Carnahan’s favorite St. Louis chefs, such as Ben Poremba of Olio, Loryn Nalic of the Balkan Treat Box and Qui Tran of Mai Lee, was served at the reception.

Tom Carnahan closed his statements by telling mourners he’s realized over the past few days that he wants to be more like his mother.

“It means when the world seems too much to bear, you clear your mind, embrace your heart, and take a step forward,” he said.

“It means showing the world who you are by what you do and then doing it with passion,” he continued. “It means being the cause and not the effect and staying curious, taking authentic interest in others, and, sometimes, not taking yourself quite so seriously.”

In Jefferson City, Gov. Mike Parson ordered flags at half-staff in her honor.