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| A Los Angeles police officer carries flowers left by a mourner to the front gate of the home of Nancy Reagan in the Bel-Air district of Los Angeles Sunday, March 6, 2016 Nancy Reagan, the helpmate, backstage adviser and fierce protector of Ronald Reagan in his journey from actor to president, and finally during his 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease, died Sunday morning. She was 94. |
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Latest on the death of former US first lady Nancy Reagan (all times local):
1:20 p.m.
U.S.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama released a
statement following the death of Nancy Reagan. The Obamas say Mrs.
Reagan redefined the role of the first lady.
The
Obamas say Mrs. Reagan became the voice of other family members going
through the journey of Alzheimer's disease with a loved one.
After
leaving office, President Ronald Reagan battled Alzheimer's for 10
years. During that time, Mrs. Reagan was his full-time caregiver. The
former president died in 2004 and Mrs. Reagan tended to his legacy
through his presidential library in Simi Valley, California.
The Obamas expressed condolences to the Reagan children and grandchildren in the statement.
Mrs. Reagan died Sunday at 94 of congestive heart failure.
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12:29 p.m.
Before she became first lady of the United States, Nancy Regan had served in that role for the state of California.
Former President Ronald Reagan was elected governor of California in 1966.
The state's present governor, Jerry Brown, issued a statement about Mrs. Reagan, who died Sunday at 94.
"Nancy
Reagan lived a remarkable life and will be remembered for her strength
and grace. On behalf of all Californians, Anne and I extend our deepest
condolences to the Reagan family."
Mrs. Reagan died at her home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles of congestive heart failure, an assistant said.
Ronald Reagan served as governor from 1967-1975. He died in June 2004.
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11:57 a.m.
People
remembering former US first lady Nancy Reagan have left a growing
display of flowers at the main entrance gate of the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California.
The library is closed and visitors are beginning to be turned away.
Sharon
Hirtzer and her husband, Joe, were among the mourners outside the
library Sunday. The Chicago couple were in California and had previously
planned to visit the library before learning Mrs. Reagan's death on
Sunday.
"I was just really said," Sharon Hirtzer said. "She was a great lady and had so much class."
Hirtzer
said Mrs. Reagan brought glamour to the White House. Though Mrs. Reagan
was criticized for spending habits, Hirtzer said that never bothered
her.
"I was always impressed by the way she carried herself," Hirtzer said.
Mrs. Reagan was 94.
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9:07 a.m.
Former first lady Nancy Reagan has died at 94 in Bel-Air, California.
Assistant Allison Borio says Mrs. Reagan died Sunday at her home of congestive heart failure.
Her marriage to Ronald Reagan lasted 52 years until his death in 2004.
A
former actress, she was Reagan's closest adviser and fierce protector
on his journey from actor to governor of California to president of the
United States.
She rushed to his side after he
was shot in 1981 by a would-be assassin, and later endured his nearly
decade-long battle with Alzheimer's disease. In recent years she broke
with fellow Republicans in backing stem cell research as a way to
possibly find a cure for Alzheimer's.
