RIDGELAND, Miss., Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The office of Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran confirmed his wife Rose died Friday morning at the age of 73 in Ridgeland, Miss.
Rose Cochran was transferred from her nursing home, where she was bedridden with progressive dementia since age 60, to hospice care in mid-November. Although he spent time by his wife's side for much of the week, Sen. Cochran was in Washington at the time of Rose's death awaiting a vote on the eventually-passed CRomnibus budget.
"Deborah and I are saddened to hear of the passing of Rose Cochran today," Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said in a statement.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Thad and his family. Rose was a gracious and humble lady who should be long remembered for her caring and gentle spirit."
Rose Cochran became the center of unexpected political controversy during the 2014 midterm elections when conservative blogger Clayton Kelly photographed her in her nursing home bed in a subversive attempt to discredit Cochran's character and boost the campaign of Tea Party-backed challenger Chris McDaniel. McDaniel denies any involvement.
Kelly was arrested on felony charges along with Mississippi Tea Party leader Mark Mayfield, former conservative radio host John Mary and educator Richard Sager.
In a tragic turn of events, Mayfield committed suicide before his trial could begin, something McDaniels' camp publicly blames on Cochran's campaign.
Services for Rose Cochran are pending according to the senator's official website.
