Nancy Reagan was born Anne Francis Robins on July 6, 1921. It wasn't until later in her childhood years that she became known as Nancy. When her mother remarried, Nancy took her stepfather's last name, Davis.
She attended a private school in Chicago, where she majored in drama, and then began her public career as an actress in stage, film, and television.
She was in a total of 11 movies — her last being "Hellcats of the Navy", which she starred in alongside her husband, Ronald Reagan, in 1956.
She and Ronald met due to a mistake in 1951, when Nancy's name was accidentally included on a list of suspected Communist sympathizers. She asked to speak with the president of the Screen Actors Guild, who happened to be Ronald. They wed a year later.
Source: Fox News
Ronald Reagan served as the governor of California from 1967 to 1975. Nancy was very active in her duties as first lady and became a champion of the Foster Grandparent Program, a program that sets up volunteers ages 55 and older with children with special needs.
She's also well known for the "Just Say No" project. Launched shortly after her husband's election into the White House in 1980, the program sought to help young people with drug and alcohol abuse.
From 1980 to 1981, Nancy was voted the world's number-one most admired women in a Gallup poll.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 at age 66, but she didn't let that slow her down.
After undergoing a successful surgery, she started to raise awareness of the serious disease and later wrote a memoir titled "My Turn", where she stressed the importance of getting annual mammograms.
Throughout Ronald's years as governor, Nancy was very involved in the community. She spent hours visiting veterans, the elderly, and the emotionally and physically handicapped.
Her interest in and aid to these disadvantaged groups never stopped.
She was extremely dedicated to raising awareness for them, and helping others.
Reagan was also known for being a "fierce protector" of her husband throughout his eight years of presidency, and long after.
In 1981, Ronald Reagan was shot in an assassination attempt, and Nancy spent every day in the hospital with him. Only she and a few others knew just how severely he was hurt.
The two had a very loving relationship. She was always looking out for him, making sure people had his best interests in mind.
Over the years, Ronald had written Nancy a large collection of love letters. After the announcement of Ronald's Alzheimer's diagnosis in 1994, Nancy collected the letters and published them as a book, titled "I Love You, Ronnie: The Letters of Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan."
Ten years later, Ronald passed away. Nancy still remained active with the Reagan Library and other organizations that kept the family name alive.
She also raised millions of dollars for the research of Alzheimer's disease.
Reagan remained in the public eye over the years. During the 2008 presidential campaign, she hosted two debates for the Republican party at the Reagan Library.
In 2009, President Obama signed the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act — a law to develop and carry out activities that honor the memory of Ronald Reagan. Nancy was present as Obama signed the act.
In most recent years, it was apparent that she was having some health problems. In 2012 she had a fall that caused her to break several ribs.
Nancy passed away on Sunday, March 6. Prior to the funeral — which has yet to be announced — there will be an opportunity for members of the public to pay their respects at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.
