Dixy Lee Ray

Born 3 September 1914 in Tacoma, Washington, USA

Died 2 January 1994 (aged 79)

Dixy Lee Ray (September 3, 1914 – January 2, 1994) was an American academic, scientist, and politician who served as the 17th governor of Washington from 1977 to 1981. Variously described as idiosyncratic and "ridiculously smart," she was the state's first female governor and was in office during the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.