By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-03 02:37:07 | Updated at 2026-08-03 07:16:29
4 hours ago
Former Texas Congresswoman Kay Granger has died at the age of 83, officials said on Sunday evening.
Granger, who was also the first female mayor of Fort Worth, was living in an independent living facility at the time of her death, a spokeswoman for her and her son told CBS News.
Her cause of death is unknown. In 2025, her son, Brandon Granger, told The Dallas Morning News his mother was 'having some dementia issues late in the year.'
US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson also confirmed her death later Sunday evening.
'Kay Granger devoted her life to serving her Fort Worth, Texas community — as a teacher and businesswoman, on the Fort Worth Zoning Commission and City Council, as Mayor, and in Congress for nearly three decades, where she also served as Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee.
'Throughout her career, she broke barriers for women in public service. She was the first woman to serve as Mayor of Fort Worth, the first Republican woman elected to represent Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee.
'Kelly and I send our prayers to her family, loved ones, and the Fort Worth community as we remember her extraordinary life of service and lasting legacy. She was a dear friend who will be greatly missed,' Johnson concluded.
Granger had served the U.S. House since January 1997, but in recent years, she and her family have addressed health issues and her prolonged absences from Washington D.C.
Former Texas Congresswoman Kay Granger has died at the age of 83, officials said on Sunday evening
The Republican announced she would not seek reelection in 2023 and retired in January 2025.
'As many of my family, friends, and colleagues have known, I have been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year.
'However, since early September, my health challenges have progressed, making frequent travel to Washington both difficult and unpredictable. During this time, my incredible staff has remained steadfast, continuing to deliver exceptional constituent services, as they have for the past 27 years,' it read.
In December of last year, Brandon told The Dallas Morning News that his mother was living at Tradition Senior Living in Fort Worth.
He noted that the place was not a memory care facility and that Granger resided in the independent living area.
In 2025, she was named Fort Worth's Inc.'s 2025 Person of the Year for her trailblazing career and decades of public service.
Ted Cruz, a U.S. Senator from Texas, also shared a tribute online after hearing of Granger's passing.
'Heidi and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Kay Granger. From serving as Fort Worth’s first woman mayor to becoming the first Republican woman from Texas elected to the House and the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, Kay lived a life of historic firsts.
'For nearly three decades, she championed North Texas, our Armed Forces, and a strong national defense. We are praying for her family and all who loved her,' Cruz wrote.
Granger was born in Greenville, Texas, and graduated from Texas Wesleyan University in 1965.
She was a former school teacher and businesswoman who served on Fort Worth's zoning commission from 1981 to 19189.
Granger went on to serve on the city council before being elected as the first female mayor of Fort Worth in 1991. She served in that role until 1995.
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