A once prominent Democratic leader in the Kansas State Legislature has passed away.

Former State Rep. Marvin Barkis, who rose to serve as Speaker of the House at the pinnacle of his career, died on Friday at the age of 81, according to State Affairs.

Barkis, who previously served as the House Minority Leader, was the third and final Democrat in the state's history to become the House Speaker, a position he held from 1991-1992.

Dead at 81

Local NBC affiliate KSNT reported that former Speaker Barkis passed away Friday morning at a care facility in Paola, Kansas.

Born in 1943 and raised in Miami County, he went on to serve the area in the state legislature from 1978 until 1992, during which he ascended to become the House Minority Leader from 1984 to 1990 and was then selected to be the House Speaker in 1990 until he retired from lawmaking.

He is survived by his wife, Kay Barkis, and their three children -- Anne, Will, and John -- plus five grandchildren and his sister, Marita Barkis.

Praised by Kansas House Democrats

Local media outlet WIBW reported that Barkis was honored following his death in a statement released by Alexis Simmons, the Kansas House Democrats' communication director.

"Barkis believed the greatest success of the House in those years were issues affecting Kansas children and the major review of the Kansas school finance laws which had been judged unconstitutional," Simmons said.

She added that Barkis "will be remembered for his love of his family and friends, and for his deep belief in the importance of civic participation and justice."

KSNT reported that Simmons further noted that Barkis' achievements as Speaker were all the more remarkable given that he presided over a slim one-seat majority, 63-62.

"The subsequent revisions restored the constitutionality of the law and have withstood the tests of time and multiple court challenges 30-plus years later," she said of his work on school finance laws. "In addition, significant property tax reforms were adopted and presented to the voters who approved a constitutional amendment to reduce property tax pressure on homeowners."

Detailed interview

In 2017, Barkis sat for an extensive interview with the Kansas Oral History Project and spoke at length and in great detail about his career in politics and the inner workings of the state legislature from both perspectives as the leader of the majority and the minority.

He also shared some of the personal details of his life, including his upbringing on a farm and experience as an aide at the State Capitol while his father served as a state senator, as well as how he earned a law degree from Stanford and his legal career before entering politics, plus his efforts to win over the affection of his wife and how they traveled the world together before settling down to start a family.

Per an announcement from the mortuary, a full obituary for Barkis will be released soon and plans are being finalized for a cremation and celebration of life ceremony.