Former two-term Washington State Gov. Booth Gardner died at age 76 on Friday. Gardner died from complication of Parkinson’s disease.

He served as the 19th Governor of Washington State from 1985 to 1993.

“We’re very sad to lose my father, who had been struggling with a difficult disease for many years, but we are relieved to know that he’s at rest now and his fight is done,” Gardner’s daughter Gail Gant said in a release.

Bothell resident and Washington State Sen. Patty Murray released this statement:

“I am deeply saddened today by the passing of Booth Gardner. Booth was a leader of tremendous compassion, dignity, and bravery whose service to our state will live on far into the future. He was generous in sharing his wisdom and his time, and I will never forget the lessons he taught me when I was just beginning my political career in Olympia many years ago.

“I learned so much from Booth because he was a man that led by example. He demonstrated that governing is about the people you serve – and serve with – by learning everyone’s name, what issues they cared deeply about, and by taking the time to work with anyone that shared his desire to make Washington state a better place to live. Booth also showed that compromise and compassion were not competing ideals by being pragmatic when he needed to be, but by always working to protect the needs of the most vulnerable.

“Booth’s imprint on our state will long be seen in our classrooms and the many open spaces he fought to protect. Up until the very end of his life Booth remained a fighter for the issues he cared most about — those of us who knew him couldn’t have imagined it any other way. My thoughts and prayers are with his family today. I will miss Booth”

King County Executive Dow Constantine released this statement on Gardner’s passing:

“Washington state has lost a great leader, and its people have lost a great friend with the passing of Governor Booth Gardner.

“Governor Gardner was known as a man who could talk to anyone, because he treated everyone the same way—like a fellow human being.

“His two terms in office are best remembered for the major steps forward our state took in how we educate our children, how we protect the environment, and how we care for the less fortunate in our society.

“Booth was that rare political leader who was liked by both his allies and his adversaries. He will be greatly missed.”

The Reporter’s sister paper The Everett Herald has more on Gov. Gardner’s career.