Ex-NV Assemblywoman de Braga dies at 72

FALLON - Marcia de Braga, a former state assemblywoman from a longtime ranching family in Churchill County, has died after a long illness.

De Braga had been serving the past year as chairwoman of the Churchill County Democratic Party. Party officials confirmed her death Wednesday morning in an e-mail to supporters. She was 72.

De Braga represented the 35th District covering parts of Eureka, Lander, Churchill and White Pine counties for five terms ending in 2002. She also worked as a newspaper columnist and authored a book on the history of Churchill County.

Since 1986, she and her husband, Lyle, had been involved in the Silver State International Rodeo that drew more than 500 competitors to Fallon each Fourth of July weekend.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in a statement he was deeply saddened by de Braga's death.

"As an assemblywoman she was a good legislator and represented rural Nevada as well as anyone. She was always very active in her community and touched many lives along the way," he said. "My thoughts are with Marcias family and friends during this time as they remember a wonderful woman."

Services are pending.