A Beautiful Backyard Picnic: Relive the 2012 ‘Days of Our Lives’ Exit That Broke Hearts

On this day in 2012, Days of Our Lives said goodbye to Lexie Carver as Renée Jones retired from acting, and the character was beautifully written out after the characters spent nearly 25 years on the show.

Earlier in 2012, Lexie was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor after having been kidnapped and stuck in the DiMera tunnels by her father, Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo), years prior.

In an interview with TV Guide soap journalist Michael Logan, Jones explained that she no longer found joy in acting: “I just don’t want to do this anymore,” she shared. “I was raised on a farm in Georgia, and I want to get back to that silence, that solitude. I want to spend all day enjoying nature, experiencing God. Every so often, production at Days will go dark for a couple of weeks, and I feel relieved.”

When the actress was asked whether Lexie could ever return, Jones told Logan the writers assured her the ending would be permanent. “They said, ‘We will do something that guarantees it.’ And they did. I can’t tell you what it is, but it is definitely the end for Lexie,” she teased.

Thus, on June 19, 2012, Lexie and her husband, Abe Carver (James Reynolds), went out to their backyard for a picnic. Surrounded by the warm sunlight and hearing birds chirping in the background, Abe discusses wanting to renew his wedding vows to his wife. “It would feel good to marry you all over again,” Abe told his wife.

“That’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever said,” she jokes, and Abe asks if that’s a yes, to which she responds, “I would marry you again and again,” if I could.

Abe asks if they can go inside, but Lexie insists on staying outside; she wants to wait until it’s dark and “count the stars.” Abe agrees but only “as long as you let me hug you,” and she says “always.”

Abe tells Lexie it’s getting chilly out and lets him go grab a blanket for them, but she doesn’t respond, and Abe realizes that she has passed away.

Years later, in 2025, Days of Our Lives kicked off a controversial storyline when Lexie’s brother, E.J. DiMera (Daniel Feuerriegel), began experimenting with bringing someone back from the dead.

As the storyline developed, it was revealed that E.J. had resurrected his sister, this time played by Nikki Crawford.

While the storyline is currently playing out on screen, fans are watching as Lexie appears to be having a negative reaction to the resurrection drug and may not make it out alive. They will have to stay tuned to see how it plays out.

Fans React

On the anniversary of her death, fans reflected on Lexie’s original exit on social media.

One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Awe I cried for weeks when Lexie died, she was 1 of my favorite characters, and I loved scenes with her brother and father, EJ and Stefano with her❤️”

A second user shared, “One of the saddest deaths on Days such a great actress and an important character. She is sorely missed but never forgotten”

With a third adding, “Gosh, this one hit hard 😢”

Days of Our Lives airs weekdays on Peacock.