(RALEIGH) -- State Sen. Jim Forrester, 74, has died. The Republican led the effort to secure next year's statewide referendum on whether to prohibit gay marriage. Senate President Phil Berger said Forrester should be remembered for more than just his work to get the gay marriage amendment referendum passed.

"I think that when you're considering someone's life's work I think you have to look at the entirety of it and not just one chapter," said Berger.

Forrester was a physician who joined the Legislature 20 years ago. His family said he had been battling multiple health problems.  He was admitted to a hospital in Gastonia on Saturday morning.  His condition deteriorated and he lost consciousness on Sunday morning.

Berger added that from his story as an immigrant from Scotland to his service in the Air Force to his time as a tate senator, Forrester led an interesting life. "You look at his life and it represented, I think in many respects, the embodiment of the American dream."