"Gov. Hearnes died shortly after 11 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 16, 2009) surrounded by family. He had been in declining health for about two years and was injured in a fall a few months ago. "We were all with him holding his hands," said Lynn Hearnes of Clayton, one of his three daughters.
Gov. Hearnes held elective office in Missouri for 22 years, as governor, secretary of state and state representative from his native Charleston. He was the state's first governor to serve two full consecutive terms, from 1965 to 1973. He was a candidate for U.S. Senate in 1976 and for state auditor in 1978, and later served briefly as a circuit court judge."
R.I.P.