State Rep. Rebecca Roeber Archives

Flags to fly at half-staff on Monday across Missouri for Representative Roeber

August 10, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor has ordered flags at all government buildings across the state to be flown at half-staff on Monday, in honor of the late State Rep. Rebecca Roeber, R-Lee’s Summit.

State Rep. Rebecca Roeber was a Lee’s Summit Republican (2019 file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Representative Roeber, 61, died on July 30. She had suffered serious injuries in a March head-on collision on Highway 50 in west-central Missouri’s Syracuse.

Governor Mike Parson’s proclamation orders U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff at all government buildings in Missouri on Monday.

“We are saddened by the passing of Representative Roeber and offer our sincere condolences to her husband and family,” Parson said in a statement. “Having served five years in the Missouri House and 17 years as an educator, Rebecca was a dedicated public servant with a kind, compassionate heart. She will be truly missed, and we will always remember the difference she made in our state.”

Before being elected to the House in 2014, Roeber served as a teacher in the Raytown school district for 17 years.

She chaired the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee.

During an interview with Missourinet after her death, House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, said it was a tragedy for the House to lose her.

“She will forever be remembered for being a champion for Missouri’s students,” Haahr said.

Haahr: Roeber “will forever be remembered for being a champion for Missouri’s students” (AUDIO)

July 30, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri House Speaker describes State Rep. Rebecca Roeber, R-Lee’s Summit, as a dedicated public servant who will be greatly missed.

House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee Chairwoman Rebecca Roeber speaks at the Missouri Capitol on February 19, 2019 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, announced Roeber’s death today. The Speaker notes Roeber suffered serious injuries in a March head-on collision on Highway 50 in west-central Missouri’s Syracuse.

“Had been released from the hospital somewhat recently and we thought she was on the mend,” Haahr says. “She was on a family vacation in Colorado and passed away in the night.”

Roeber, who was first elected in 2014, chaired the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee. She supported legislation that would have allowed charter schools to expand to Missouri cities and charter counties with a population larger than 30,000.

Charter schools are publicly-funded schools which operate independently of traditional public schools. Under current Missouri law, charter schools are only allowed in St. Louis, Kansas City and in unaccredited school districts.

Speaker Haahr says Roeber “will forever be remembered for being a champion for Missouri’s students.” He says she had a passion to see children develop the tools to succeed in life.

“An incredibly kind person, incredibly talented and cared so much about education, about giving kids the best opportunity forward and it’s a tragedy for the House to lose her,” says Haahr.

Before being elected to the House in 2014, Roeber served as a teacher in the Raytown school district for 17 years. Raytown is a Kansas City suburb.

Haahr tells Missourinet that Roeber was respected by lawmakers in both parties.

“Even when she could be firm, she never seemed angry or upset with people that she worked with and she was just liked across the aisle, universally by everyone,” Haahr says.

After the crash, Roeber did not return to the Statehouse in Jefferson City for the rest of the 2019 session. Speaker Haahr told Missourinet in May that she would need to learn to walk again.

Funeral arrangements for Representative Roeber have not been announced yet.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full three-minute interview with House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, about State Rep. Rebecca Roeber’s death and her education legacy:

Missouri lawmaker dies; Roeber chaired House Education Committee

July 30, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The chairwoman of the Missouri House Education Committee has died.

State Rep. Rebecca Roeber, R-Lee’s Summit, speaks on the Missouri House floor on May 12, 2017 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, tells Missourinet that State Rep. Rebecca Roeber, R-Lee’s Summit, passed away overnight while on a family vacation in Colorado.

Roeber, who was first elected to the House in 2014, chaired the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee.

She suffered serious injuries in a March head-on collision on Highway 50 in west-central Missouri’s Syracuse. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says Roeber crossed the center line on Highway 50 and struck a second vehicle.

In a statement, Speaker Haahr says Roeber “will forever be remembered for being a champion for Missouri’s students.”