CHICAGO — Lura Lynn Ryan, the former Illinois first lady who spent the waning years of her life seeking freedom for imprisoned former Gov. George Ryan, quietly spent her final moments with her husband of 55 years at her side.
She died Monday evening after a long bout with cancer, said Kankakee County Coroner Robert Gessner. She was 76.
Ryan had been released from his prison cell in Terre Haute, Ind., to spend several hours with her Monday, one of four times since January the prison’s warden has used his discretion to let the former governor see his ailing wife. Ryan’s requests were repeatedly denied by the courts.
“It was enormously important to him and to her,” said Ryan attorney former Gov. Jim Thompson. “They’ve been together all their lives really.”
The former governor is serving time on federal corruption charges.
The Associated Press
