Mother of state Rep. Basye dies after contracting COVID-19
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The mother of state Rep. Chuck Basye died Thursday after a battle with COVID-19 that lasted more than a month.
Basye, R-Rocheport, told ABC 17 News that his mother, Joanne Basye, succumbed to the illness at Boone Hospital Center. Basye said his mother was originally admitted to a hospital Sept. 9 for congestive heart failure. She then tested positive for novel coronavirus.
Basye said his mother began to improve and was transferred to Columbia Post Acute, a rehabilitation and skilled nursing center. However, the disease then progressed and she was taken back to Boone.
Joanne Basye died a day before her 86th birthday. Basye said she and his father had been married 66 years.
Basye said the experience made him appreciate front-line health care workers more than he had.
“They’re dealing with a lot of stress not only with my family but a lot of families going through similar stuff," Basye said. "And they’re just absolute angels. It highlighted that for me.”
Basye said the pandemic and his personal experience with it has shed light on mental health needs in the state as well as the direct effects of COVID-19. He said he will lean on those lessons as the legislature returns to the Capitol next month for a special session and during next year's regular legislative session if he is re-elected.
Basye's Democratic opponent in that election, union carpenter Adrian Plank, shared his condolences on Twitter when he heard the news Thursday.
"I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Rep. Basye's mother this afternoon," Plank wrote. "I ask that we send our thoughts and prayers to the Basye family as they grieve."
