Nancy Reagan, the widow of President Ronald Reagan and passionately devoted keeper of his flame, died Sunday morning of congestive heart failure at 94, according to her spokesperson.

Reagan died at her home in Los Angeles. She's set to be buried at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, next to her husband. Prior to the funeral, there will be an opportunity for members of the public to pay their respects at the Library, the spokesperson said. Details had not yet been announced Sunday afternoon.

Reagan, whose husband died in 2004, had appeared frail after suffering several falls in recent years. In May 2012 it was disclosed she had broken several ribs in a fall at her Los Angeles home six weeks earlier.

"Nancy is where she has always wanted to be with her Ronnie...Now she is at peace...," her stepson, Michael, wrote on Twitter.

Memorials poured in from many in the political world.

"Nancy Reagan was totally devoted to President Reagan, and we take comfort that they will be reunited once more," former First Lady Barbara Bush said in a statement. "George and I send our prayers and condolences to her family."

Although she initially worked as an actress, the former first lady was, first and foremost, Mrs. Ronald Reagan.

"My life really began when I married my husband," Nancy Reagan once said, and for 52 years of marriage they were a fiercely close and devoted couple.

"Thank God we found each other," she said in a 1998 interview. "Can't imagine life without him."

Nancy Davis Reagan was born July 6, 1921 in New York City as Anne Frances Robbins. Her father was Kenneth Seymour Robbins, a used car salesman, and her mother Edith P. Luckett, was an actress. She became known as Nancy as a child.

Her parents divorced when she was young and her mother remarried Dr. Loyal Davis, a Chicago neurosurgeon, who adopted her.

She took his name and attended private school in Chicago, followed by Smith College, where she majored in drama.

Nancy Davis began her career as an actress in stage, film and television productions. In 1951, she met Reagan when she found her name on a newspaper list of supposed Communist sympathizers and she consulted the actor, then president of the Screen Actors Guild, to see what could be done about it. (He said she'd been confused with another actress with the same name).

They married on March 4, 1952 (it was his second marriage after divorcing actress Jane Wyman) and had two children who survive her, Patricia and Ron. She also is survived by Michael. Her stepdaughter, Maureen, died in 2001.

In all, Nancy Reagan made 11 movies, the last, "Hellcats of the Navy" (1956) opposite her husband.

"I must say acting was good training for the political life which lay ahead for us," she observed – along with "the movies were custard compared to politics."

Ronald Reagan served as governor of California from 1967-1975 and as the state's first lady, Nancy became a champion of the Foster Grandparent Program, which brought together senior citizens and handicapped children.

Following her husband's election to the presidency in 1980, Reagan launched a project fighting drug and alcohol abuse among young people and "Just Say No" became its byword.

She also was known as a fierce protector of her husband, especially after the 1981 attempt on his life. To this end, she even consulted an astrologer about his schedule – a fact later revealed to some uproar by former chief of staff Donald Regan in his memoir.

From 1981-89, Nancy Reagan was annually voted one of the world's ten most admired women in a Gallup poll and three times, she came in at number one.

In 1987, the then 66-year-old first lady was diagnosed with breast cancer. After undergoing successful surgery, she raised awareness of the disease among many women and in her later memoir "My Turn," she stressed the importance of annual mammograms.

The Reagans' mutual devotion over 52 years of marriage was legendary. They were forever holding hands. She watched his political speeches with a look of such steady adoration it was dubbed "the gaze." He called her "Mommy," and penned a lifetime of gushing love notes. She saved these letters, published them as a book, and found them a comfort when he could no longer remember her.

In announcing his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 1994, Reagan wrote, "I only wish there was some way I could spare Nancy from this painful experience." Ten years later, as his body lay in state in the U.S. Capitol, Mrs. Reagan caressed and gently kissed the flag-draped casket.

As a widow, Reagan remained active within the Reagan Library and championed Alzheimer's patients, raising millions of dollars
for research and breaking with fellow conservative Republicans to
advocate for stem cell studies. Her dignity and perseverance in these post-White House roles helped smooth over the public's fickle perceptions of the former first lady.

As she grew increasingly older and frail in appearance, she only rarely made public appearances.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/03/06/nancy-reagan-widow-ronald-reagan-dead-at-94.html?intcmp=hpbt1

She was a classy first lady.

I remember when she arrived at the hospital, after the assignation attempt.
She walked in alone (for some reason), but there were guards on both sides of her, at attention.
And she had a GIANT clear glass jar of multi colored jelly beans, with an a fancy lid.

Newscasters , everyone seemed stunned. And a reported asked her why? She looked at him through her shock & said ' he is my husband & he likes them & he eats them everyday. '

I still think of their love when I see jellybeans


Nancy Reagan dies at 94:
http://youtu.be/YjdSj4SG8sw/ 05:19 Her Love Story With President Ronald Reagan

awww RIP

Nancy Reagan Biography

U.S. First Lady, Theater Actress, Film Actress, Television Actress (1921–2016)

Name
Nancy Reagan

Occupation
U.S. First Lady, Theater Actress, Film Actress, Television Actress

Birth Date
July 6, 1921

Death Date
March 6, 2016

Education
Smith College, Sidwell Friends School

Place of Birth
New York City, New York

Place of Death
Los Angeles, California

Originally
Anne Frances Robbins
Maiden Name
Nancy Davis
Full Name
Nancy Davis Reagan
AKA
Nancy Reagan

Nancy Reagan was a former Hollywood actress, the first lady of the United States during President Ronald Reagan's time in office and the founder of the "Just Say No" drug awareness campaign.
Nancy Reagan - Mini Biography (TV-14; 4:08) A short biography of Nancy Reagan, who, after graduating from Smith College, moved to Hollywood to become an actress and met Ronald Reagan. As first lady, she launched the "Just Say No" drug awareness campaign in 1982.

Synopsis

Born in New York City on July 6, 1921, Nancy Reagan was a former first lady of the United States and the widow of President Ronald Reagan. She was a Hollywood actress in the 1940s and '50s and married then-actor Reagan in 1952. Acting as a significant adviser to her husband, she served as first lady of California before eventually moving into the White House. Her major initiative was the "Just Say No" drug awareness campaign. After her husband contracted Alzheimer's disease, she became a strong advocate for finding a cure. Nancy Reagan died on March 6, 2016 at the age of 94.

Background and Early Life

Nancy Reagan's early life foretold nothing of the woman she would become. On July 6, 1921, Anne Frances Robbins was born in New York City, the only child of Kenneth Robbins, a salesman, and Edith Luckett Robbins, an aspiring actress. Early on, Anne acquired the nickname "Nancy." With her father having left the marriage during Nancy's infancy, Edith sent her daughter to be raised by her aunt and uncle, Virginia and C. Audley Galbraith, in Bethesda, Maryland. There, Nancy attended Sidwell Friends School for a time. She and her aunt would travel to visit her mother whenever Edith was in New York for lengthy theater runs.
Nancy Reagan: Known as one of the White House's staunchest advocates for drug awareness, first lady Nancy Reagan left her mark on American history through her acting career, marriage to President Ronald Reagan and 'Just Say No' campaign—part of the 'War on Drugs' campaign launched President Reagan in 1982.

In 1929, Edith married a prominent Chicago neurosurgeon, Loyal Davis. Nancy joined her mother and, in 1931, Loyal adopted Nancy, changing her last name to Davis. In her new home, she was exposed to wealth and privilege, attending the Girls' Latin School. She then studied drama at Smith College and earned a bachelors of arts degree in 1943.

Acting Career

After college, Nancy worked as a sales clerk in Marshall Fields Department store in Chicago and later as a nurse's aide. With help from some of her mother’s friends, she eased into an acting career. Her first role was a nonspeaking part in the touring company production of Ramshackle Inn. The play eventually made it to Broadway in New York City, where Nancy landed a minor role in the 1946 musical Lute Song, starring Yul Brynner and Mary Martin.

In 1949, Nancy Davis traveled to Hollywood and was given a seven-year contract with MGM Studios. But success didn’t come quickly. MGM found it difficult to cast her in the films they were making. Initially, she was typecast in minor roles such as the loyal housewife or the steady woman. Her first films included the 1949 projects The Doctor and the Girl, with Glenn Ford, and East Side, West Side, with Barbara Stanwyck. She always said her favorite screen role was playing Mrs. Katherine Mead in 1951's Night into Morning, which starred Ray Milland.

Marriage to Ronald Reagan

By 1949, calls for parts had dried up. The actress noticed her name was listed on the Hollywood blacklist, which was established by the film industry to warn studios and producers of individuals suspected of being communist sympathizers. Nancy was not a communist and had no association with any communist organizations. The listing was of another actress with the same name. In November 1949, Nancy contacted Ronald Reagan, president of the Screen Actors Guild, to see if he could help. Both were immediately attracted to each other and soon began dating, though they later saw other people. Reagan was skeptical of marriage, having just experienced a painful divorce from actress Jane Wyman the previous year. After three years, Reagan finally proposed and Nancy accepted. The couple was married on March 4, 1952.

Nancy Reagan quickly assumed the role of full-time wife and homemaker, though she did continue to act at times. On October 21, 1952, the couple's first child, Patricia Ann, was born. Nancy managed to finish three films after being married, including the WWII drama Hellcats of the Navy, which featured her husband in the lead. After guest spots on several television programs into the early 1960s, Nancy left acting to concentrate on raising a family. By now, there were four Reagan children: In addition to Patricia, Ronald P. Reagan was born in 1958, and Reagan had two other children from his marriage to Wyman, Maureen and Michael.

Political Rise in California

In 1967, following her husband's election for the California governorship, Nancy Reagan became the state's first lady. She was quickly criticized for expressing concerns about the governor's mansion, calling it a "fire trap," and moving her family to an exclusive suburb in Sacramento. Characterized as "snobbish" by the press and her husband's political opponents, she defended the move over concern about her family's safety. Her reputation improved in time as she became involved in the Foster Grandparents Program. Later, the Los Angeles Times declared her "a model first lady" for her glamour, style and youthfulness.

After serving two terms as governor, in 1976 Ronald Reagan began his quest for becoming president of the United States. At first, Nancy was reluctant, but eventually relented and took on the traditional role of a candidate's wife, holding coffees, luncheons and talks with senior citizens while serving as a significant adviser to her husband. Reagan lost his bid to be the Republican nominee to Gerald Ford, but came back in 1980 and won the election.

U.S. First Lady

The perception of snobbery that had dogged Nancy Reagan in California followed her to the White House in 1981, when she announced the executive mansion needed an upgrade and began redecorating. Criticized for frivolous spending on her new "home" during a time of economic recession, she faced an onslaught of negative press. Though private funds were raised to upgrade the White House and much of her official wardrobe was donated, she was accused of living lavishly and not caring about Americans who were suffering.

In 1982, Nancy reversed her negative image by championing drug abuse awareness and education. Traveling throughout the United States and several foreign countries, Nancy visited prevention programs and rehabilitation centers. In 1985, she hosted an international conference on youth drug abuse at the White House. Though her "Just Say No" campaign was criticized as simplistic, her efforts culminated in legislation, the "National Crusade for a Drug Free America" act, signed into law by President Reagan in October 1986. Continuing her efforts, Nancy addressed the United Nations General Assembly in 1988, speaking in support of strengthening international drug interdiction and trafficking laws. While all of this was going on, in October 1987, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and underwent a mastectomy.

Perhaps Nancy Reagan's most important role as first lady was as the president's personal protector. This partly grew out of the March 30, 1981 assassination attempt on his life. Thereafter, Nancy made it her concern to know all aspects of his itinerary, even employing the advice of an astrologer before his scheduled was finalized. This created friction between the first lady and White House Chief of Staff Donald Regan. When the Iran-Contra affair was revealed, the two argued, leading to Regan's resignation.

Later Years and Death

After the Reagans left the White House, the former first lady established the Nancy Reagan Foundation to support after-school drug prevention programs. She and Ronald Reagan retired to Bel-Air, Los Angeles, living there and at the "Reagan Ranch" in Santa Barbara while dedicating much of their time to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. In November 1991, a dedication ceremony was held, and five presidents and six first ladies attended.

When Ronald Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1994, the couple lent their support to the Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute in Chicago, Illinois. Over the next decade, Nancy was the primary caregiver for her husband, making only limited appearances in the Los Angeles area.

Following Ronald Reagan's death in 2004, Nancy became an outspoken public advocate for stem-cell research, in opposition to President George W. Bush. She continued to bring attention to her husband's legacy and was awarded many distinguished awards and honors, including the Order of the White Eagle from the government of Poland and an honorary degree from Ronald Reagan's alma mater, Eureka College. She was also present in 2009 when President Barack Obama signed the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act.

The former first lady and actress published several books during her lifetime: My Turn: The Memoirs of Nancy Reagan (1989), I Love You Ronnie: The Letters of Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan (2000) and Entertaining at the White House (2007).

Nancy Reagan died from congestive heart failure on March 6, 2016, at the age of 94. She will be laid to rest at the Reagan Presidential Library with her husband.


http://www.biography.com/people/nancy-reagan-9453187#later-years/

RIP

there goes one classy Lady!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/03/07/nancy-reagan-funeral-plans-announced.html/
* Video 04:44 *

The funeral for former first lady Nancy Reagan will be held on Friday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation announced Monday.

First lady Michelle Obama will be among those attending, the White House said.

Prior to the funeral, Nancy Reagan will lie in repose for public visitation on Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the foundation said.

Transportation to the library will be by shuttle from a Bank of America property in Simi Valley. Parking will not be allowed at the library.

Friday's funeral starts at 11 a.m. (1900 GMT) and will be closed to the public. Nancy Reagan will be buried next to her husband at the library.

Details on who will attend the funeral were not released.

Nancy Reagan died of congestive heart failure on Sunday at her Los Angeles home. She was 94.

Ronald Reagan, the nation's 40th president, died on June 5, 2004, at age 93. His remains were flown to Washington, D.C., to lie in state in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol and then a service at the Washington National Cathedral. His casket was then flown back to California.

Tens of thousands of mourners filed past his coffin in the days before his interment service at the library tucked into hills northwest of Los Angeles. After the service, a tearful Nancy Reagan kissed and stroked her husband's coffin while clutching an American flag. "I love you," she said quietly.
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Nancy Reagan: Through the years. * Photo Gallery *

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/slideshow/2016/03/06/nancy-reagan-through-years.html?intcmp=ob_article_footer_mobile&intcmp=obinsite#/slide/-nbsp-/