Residents remember First Lady Barbara Bush as an inspiration

Several area residents and officials commented on the passing of former First Lady Barbara Bush, a woman who's appeal transcended partisan politics. Bush, 92, passed away Tuesday.

On Sunday, family spokesman Jim McGrath said the former first lady had decided to decline further medical treatment for health problems and focus instead on "comfort care" at home in Houston. She had been in the hospital recently for congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

In 2009, she had heart valve replacement surgery, and she had a long history of treatment for Graves' disease, a thyroid condition.

Bush and her husband, former President George H.W. Bush, married on Jan. 6, 1945, and had the longest marriage of any presidential couple in American history.

Barbara Bush was one of only two first ladies who had a child who was elected president. The other was Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams and mother of John Quincy Adams.

Cleburne businesswoman and Republican Elizabeth Victory said that although she never meet Bush, she always held her in high esteem.

"I admired the lady," Victory said. "She was old school and I like that. She set standards high and we can all learn from her example."

Past State President of the American Legion Auxiliary Marty Peters said she wondered whether Bush was a member of the auxiliary.

"I know her daughter-in-law [former First Lady Laura Bush] is," Peters said. "But either way the former first lady was a wonderful lady and while we at the auxiliary are saddened by her passing we continue to hold great respect for her service to our country and her love of our military and veterans."

Republican and former Cleburne Mayor Justin Hewlett said he also never had opportunity to meet Barbara Bush but all the same feels as if he's known her all his life.

"You always hear people say she's like everyone's grandmom," Hewlett said. "And that's certainly how it felt. She was very well respected I think by everyone regardless of their politics and she brought a level of class and dignity to the office of first lady that's set the benchmark since."

Cleburne Mayor Scott Cain felt much the same.

"Barbara Bush was a grandmother figure to the whole country," Cain said. "When I was in college, seeing Ms. Bush on television made me feel at ease and at home. She always kept her family grounded. She truly was an American treasure and will be missed."

Former Johnson County Republican Party Chairman Henry Teich described Bush as the nation's grandmother.

"Barbara Bush was a class act and she expected the same from others," Teich said. "She wanted to retrieve the best out of people and found the best in people. When I think of first ladies she ranks as one of the best, maybe the best."

Cleburne resident Jim Garvin, a precinct chairman of the Johnson County Democratic Party, said he met former President George H.W. Bush once, although Garvin was about 7 at the time, but never met Barbara.

"But I'll tell you, I always thought Barbara Bush was a tremendous, graceful lady who was very dignified before, during and after her time as first lady and brought a lot of stability to our country," Garvin said. "She was a class person and a great inspiration to us all quite honestly. I always enjoyed that she told it like it is. She was straightforward but also right on spot. And you think, what a great marriage between her and President Bush, 73 years. She will certainly be missed.

Gov. Greg Abbott called upon all Texans to keep the Bush family in their thoughts and prayers.

"Barbara Bush dedicated her life to helping others," Abbott said. "As only the second woman in history to be both the wife and mother of U.S. presidents, Barbara had a unique and profound impact on our country.

"Spearheading the fight against illiteracy, she created the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, working to improve the lives of those less fortunate through education. Her selfless devotion to service defines the inspiring legacy Barbara has left behind. Her impact on Texas and our nation will forever be treasured."

U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, spoke of Bush's many attributes and love of country.

"She wore many titles throughout her time on this earth - wife, mother, grandmother, literacy advocate, First Lady - but for me, her best title was simply ‘proud American,'" Williams said. "She possessed an old-fashioned love of country and service to others. She believed that America was a great nation because of its good people, and she inspired us all to love America and to give back. Our country is better because of Mrs. Bush; she will always be missed, but she will never be forgotten."

State Rep. DeWayne Burns, R-Cleburne, agreed.

"As we remember former First Lady Barbara Bush we can't help but focus on her love of this country, her work and dedication to family literacy and her commitment to preserving the remarkable history of the White House," Burns said. "As I personally reflect on her dedication to her husband and children, she always appeared to keep faith, family, her six children and grandchildren, and her husband as her lifelong priority, which is the example I admire most."

Eight years after leaving the nation's capital, Barbara Bush stood with her husband, the 41st president, as their son George W. was sworn in as the 43rd president. They returned four years later when he won a second term. Unlike Barbara Bush, Abigail Adams did not live to see her son's inauguration. She died in 1818, six years before John Quincy Adams was elected.

Barbara Bush insisted she did not try to influence her husband's politics.

"I don't fool around with his office," she said, "and he doesn't fool around with my household."

In 1990, Barbara Bush gave the commencement address at all-women Wellesley College. Some had protested her selection because she was prominent only through the achievements of her husband. Her speech that day was rated by a survey of scholars in 1999 as one of the top 100 speeches of the century.

"Cherish your human connections," Barbara Bush told graduates. "At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend or a parent."