Senator Jeff Flake's (R-AZ) Father Has Passed Away - RIP

Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) announced that his father, Dean Flake, died on Monday night. He was 85-years-old.

After growing up on their father’s F Bar Ranch, Dean Flake, a former teacher, and his three brothers bought out their father and ran the ranch as a partnership.

Dean Flake and his wife Nerita raised the future senator and his 10 brothers and sisters on the ranch until Dean Flake sold it to his brothers in 1996, according to a profile of Nerita Flake in the White Mountain Independent.

Dean Flake served on the Board of Arizona State Parks and was a bishop at his church.

Flake shared the tragic news via Twitter:

The finest man I’ve ever known passed away today, Dean Flake. My hero, my idol, my father. pic.twitter.com/p9cLw1KivF

— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) June 27, 2017

As the AP reports:

A spokesman for the senator said he was in Snowflake on Tuesday but will be in Washington on Wednesday to vote on the motion to proceed on the health care bill.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been scheduled.

Sen. John McCain said in a statement that Dean Flake dedicated his life to his family.

“A beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Dean Flake devoted his life to family, raising his 11 children on a ranch, surrounded by their cousins, and teaching them the importance working hard and being humble,” McCain said.

The Flakes are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.