Former First Lady Betty Ford dies at 93

[Lady Cop]

(CNN) -- Betty Ford, the widow of late President Gerald Ford and a co-founder of an eponymous addiction center in California, has died at the age of 93, according to the director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum.

Ford died Friday evening with family at her bedside, according to a family member.

Elaine Didier, the director of the Grand Rapids, Michigan, museum, confirmed Ford's death to CNN.

No other details were immediately available.

Condolences began pouring in soon after news broke about her death. Nancy Reagan, the widow of late President Ronald Reagan, called Ford "an inspiration to so many through her efforts to educate women about breast cancer and her wonderful work at the Betty Ford Center."

Former President George H.W. Bush said that he and his wife, Barbara, "loved Betty Ford very much," calling her a "wonderful wife and mother, a great friend and a courageous first lady."

Born Elizabeth Anne Bloomer in Chicago, she grew up in Grand Rapids. At the age of 21, she moved to New York City to work as a dancer and model before heading back to the Midwest two years later.

One year after divorcing William Warren after five years of marriage, she wed Gerald Ford -- a former star football player at the University of Michigan and a decorated U.S. Navy veteran -- in 1948. That year, the woman now known as Betty Ford campaigned with her new husband on his successful campaign to become a U.S. congressman. She gave birth to three sons and a daughter over the course of their 58-year marriage.

The family moved to Washington, where Gerald Ford served in the Capitol for 25 years prior to his being tapped, in 1973, as then-President Richard Nixon's vice president in place of Spiro T. Agnew.

Just over 10 months later, Betty Ford became first lady when her husband was sworn in as the 38^th president of the United States. Gerald Ford took office after Nixon resigned in the wake of his impeachment following the crisis and cover-up of the break-in at the Democratic National Committee's headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington.

[Lady Cop]

[Maggot]

I liked her. She used her life wisely and helped many.

[Duchess]

I don't think I knew Gerald Ford was dead.

[ZEROSPHERES]

I think he fell into a vat of chocolate

[Lady Cop]

Betty Ford's funeral is expected to be held Tuesday in Palm Desert, Calif., according to the The Palm Springs Desert Sun.

Five to six days of funeral services are planned, family media liaison Barbara Lewandrowski told the newspaper. More details are expected later today.

The paper also reported, the Ford family, in lieu of flowers, has requested donations be sent to four charities: the Betty Ford Center Legacy Fund in Palm Desert; the Betty Ford First Ladies Tribute Fund at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation in Grand Rapids; the Betty Ford Diagnostic Breast Center in Grand Rapids; or the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail, Colo.

Betty Ford's body will be buried beside her husband's at the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids.

The funeral is expected to be at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert.

[Duchess]

That godawful Westboro Baptist Church intends to picket this lovely woman's funeral. I don't like those people & I don't see where they get off on calling themselves a church. What those bastards do is not godly. Rawr.

[Lady Cop]

Michelle Obama and three former first ladies were among dignitaries in California today paying tribute to Betty Ford.

The funeral of the former First Lady focused on her twin passions, politics and her world famous Betty Ford Center for substance abuse and alcohol treatment.


Ford, who died at the age of 93 on Friday, had mapped out plans for today's ceremony including who would deliver her eulogies.


She chose former first lady Rosalynn Carter and journalist Cokie Roberts as speakers along with a former director of the Betty Ford Center.



there will be a second funeral Thursday in MI.