A Girl Scout, First Lady and the other half of one of the great love stories of the American presidency, Nancy Reagan revolutionized the title of First Lady with elegance and passion.

 

On Sunday, the world said goodbye to Reagan, known as one of the most influential women of the 20th Century. She died at the age of 94 of congestive heart failure.

 

Reagan made a mark on Kern County. She was a surprise guest at the Bakersfield Business Conference in 2003. It was a rare sighting for her in the final years of former President Ronald Reagan's life.

 

She was greeted by a standing ovation that Ggeorge Martin, who walked Reagan to the stage, says was "a poignant standing ovation, which I believe was not just a recognition of the fact that she was a First Lady of the United States, but a special appreciation for the dignity and caring she brought to that role, and her continued commitment to her husband in difficult times."

 

The Bakersfield Republican Women, Federated, recalled the former First Lady as someone who embodied what it is to be a Republican woman.

 

"Not only was she an extraordinary first lady, she was always supporting her husband," said Patty Castill, Publicity Chair for the Republican Women, Federated.

 

"But interestingly enough, once President Reagan died, she took over continuing his legacy and continuing to work for causes that she found important."