Tammy Faye Messner has Died

[Zoneboy]

Link (http://cbs3.com/topstories/topstories_story_202000456.html)

(CBS) NEW YORK Tammy Faye Baker, the Christian singer, evangelist, entrepreneur, talk show host and scandal survivor has died of lung cancer. She was 65 years old.

Messner appeared on CNN's Larry King Live on July 19, and told the talk show host that se weighed 65 pounds and could only eat chicken soup and rice pudding.

Tammy Faye first battled cancer in 1996, when she was diagnosed with colon cancer. She successfully treated the diseas but on March 19, 2004, just 2 weeks after her 62nd birthday, she announced she had lung cancer.

Illness was one of many battles Tammy Faye took on her during her life. She is best known as the ex-wife of Jim Bakker, the disgraced televengalist, convicted felon and admitted adulterer.

Tammy Faye and Jim married in 1961 with the goal of starting a traveling ministry. In 1973, the Bakkers established the short-lived Trinity Broadcasting Systems. The following year, Jim and Tammy Faye became the hosts of an existing North Carolina-based talk show, which they renamed the PTL (Praise the Lord) Club. Fueled by the success of the PTL Club, the Bakkers quickly established an entire Christian television network.

Fame, money and two children followed.

The Bakkers' empire began to unravel in 1980, when the national spotlight fell on Jim's adulterous affair with a church secretary, Jessica Hahn.

Adding fuel to the fire, investigations into Bakker's finances culminated in Jim’s conviction of fraud and conspiracy in 1989. During the tumultuous six-week trial, the federal government succeeded in proving that Jim solicited a total of $158 million from followers of the PTL, with about 4 million used for personal means). He was given a 45-year prison sentence, which was later reduced to six years.

In 1992, after a 31-year relationship, Tammy Faye and Jim divorced. The following year, Tammy Faye wed Roe Messner, a family friend and business associate of the Bakkers. Shortly after their marriage, Messner was imprisoned for fraud, but has since been released.

Tammy Faye was the subject of a fairly well-received documentary, The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2000) and then in 2004, appeared in the VH-1 reality series The Surreal Life.

[Ireneparalegal]

I just seen this now. Larry King is repeating her segment right now.

What I find amazing is that this segment was just days ago and now she is gone.

She really put up a fight and for her to have made that last interview must have taken all the strength she had left. It is heartbreaking. After seeing my own father die of cancer, I can see the similarities of the last days of her life and my father's life. The whispering type talk, breathing difficulty, gaunt look, etc.

GOD BE WITH YOU TAMMY AND THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THAT YOUR FAITH IN GOD IS NEVER-ENDING. Tammy showed us that no matter what life throws at us, you can live to your fullest and still be happy, never being afraid.

R.I.P.:( :rip:

[Stuck In The '70's]

God bless her. At least now she is no longer in pain. R.I.P. Tammy. :(

[ClassicTVGal]

Oh wow! I heard about her Special appearence on Larry King. A friend at work was talking about it.

I am soooo sorry about her death. And yes, she's no longer in pain. God Bless her family.

:(

[coffield3]

R.I.P Tammy sleep well.

[Janice]

Rest In Peace Tammy Faye Messner. She was a firecracker, and she will be missed.

[catlover79]

I'm so glad Tammy Faye is now pain-free and in the arms of the Lord. She will be missed.

[Shine]

:rip:

[DLevine2]

:( May you R.I.P Tammy Faye.. She will be missed and Praise The Lord.

[gidgetgrape]

She really touched my heart on 'The Surreal Life.' God Bless You Tammy! :)

[YoliUSA]

:rip: Tammy Faye :(

[eltonfan80]

i am going to miss her :(

[Jenya]

I told my husband she would not make it by the end of this weekend after we watched her the other night. I was right.

Her cancer was clearly in the final stages of her life, and I think she knew that when she did that TV interview on CNN.

Sad to hear the news. :(

[catlover79]

I told my husband she would not make it by the end of this weekend after we watched her the other night. I was right.

Her cancer was clearly in the final stages of her life, and I think she knew that when she did that TV interview on CNN.

Sad to hear the news. :(
To be honest, I'm surprised she lasted as long as she did. I remember months ago she was talking about how far downhill her physical health had gone. God bless her and her family. She is pain-free and happy at last!

[Ireneparalegal]

To be honest, I'm surprised she lasted as long as she did. I remember months ago she was talking about how far downhill her physical health had gone. God bless her and her family. She is pain-free and happy at last!
You said what Tammy said before. Her doctors didn't expect her to last this long. She fought a good fight and she prevailed; she got to have her last words to the world.

[Jenya]

To be honest, I'm surprised she lasted as long as she did. I remember months ago she was talking about how far downhill her physical health had gone. God bless her and her family. She is pain-free and happy at last!

I wasn't surprised. But for her to go on TV and answer questions in her condition was something I was surprised at. It reminds me of my younger sister in her last hours when she was dying of leukemia. My sister was prepared for her death, and so was Tammy Fay.

I give her credit for such an interview. Most famous people would not do this.

[Jonathan]

Rest in Peace, Tammy Faye. :rip: :(

[Jenya]

You guys need to understand one thing. You can only fight cancer or AIDS for so long. Sooner or later it comes to the point where you can't battle it anymore. So a person like Tammy Fay (and my younger sister) knew this. She came to the point where she let nature take it's course. You can't blame her for this. It's only natural when anybody is slowly dying of a fatal disease. She clearly was prepared for this, and she could not simply fight it any longer.

Her going on National TV and answer questions proves that when some people don't understand such a condition, she was willing to answer questions for others that never experienced such a battle.

I admire her for that. :)

[JT]

R.I.P.

She no doubt gained a whole new generation of fans with "The Surreal Life," and I'm proud to consider myself part of that. It's so refreshing to see a religious person who doesn't look down at other lifestyles and behavior, or at least not be judgemental. She will be missed for sure.

[GoldenGirlsFan92]

R.I.P. Tammy.

[Janice]

You guys need to understand one thing. You can only fight cancer or AIDS for so long. Sooner or later it comes to the point where you can't battle it anymore. So a person like Tammy Fay (and my younger sister) knew this. She came to the point where she let nature take it's course. You can't blame her for this. It's only natural when anybody is slowly dying of a fatal disease. She clearly was prepared for this, and she could not simply fight it any longer.

Her going on National TV and answer questions proves that when some people don't understand such a condition, she was willing to answer questions for others that never experienced such a battle.

I admire her for that. :)
Nobody's blaming her. I also think that most most people understand that a person can only fight cancer or AIDS for so long. It's simple to understand. Basic information actually.

[Zoneboy]

I knew this would happen, The insensitivity and greed of people amazes me sometimes. :(

eBay (http://search.ebay.com/ws/search/SaleSearch?sofocus=bs&satitle=tammy+faye&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC5&fbd=1&_trksid=m37&from=R6&nojspr=y&pfid=0&fswc=1&few=&saprclo=&saprchi=&fss=0&saslop=1&sasl=&fls=4%26floc%3D1&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D0&salic=1&saatc=1&sadis=200&fpos=27317&fsct=&sacur=0&sacqyop=ge&sacqy=&sabfmts=0&saobfmts=exsif&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&sabdlo=&sabdhi=&saaff=afdefault&afcj=&afmp=&fsop=3%26fsoo%3D2&fcl=3&frpp=50)

[Jenya]

Nobody's blaming her. I also think that most most people understand that a person can only fight cancer or AIDS for so long. It's simple to understand. Basic information actually.

I hope they do, Janice. Cancer wins and it kills most of the time. That's the reality we face right now.

[Zoneboy]

Cancer wins and it kills most of the time. That's the reality we face right now.

It's the #2 killer of adults in the U.S., Second only to heart attacks and strokes.

It is widely believed that the chemo and radiation treatments are just as much responsible for deaths as the cancer which is why I will not accept the treatments of the medical profession should I ever be diagnosed with it.

[Jenya]

It's the #2 killer of adults in the U.S., Second only to heart attacks and strokes.

It is widely believed that the chemo and radiation treatments are just as much responsible for deaths as the cancer which is why I will not accept the treatments of the medical profession should I ever be diagnosed with it.

And you need to understand that, Zoneboy.

Of course there is hope, but you need to understand such chances are very rare. Don't depend on them. Comfort your loved one for the worst. A hug makes a world of difference. Love and support makes all the difference in the world in their last hours of their lives. Believe me. I did all of that with my sister who died in front of me. :)

[Zoneboy]

And you need to understand that, Zoneboy.

Of course there is hope, but you need to understand such chances are very rare. Don't depend on them. Comfort your loved one for the worst. A hug makes a world of difference. Love and support makes all the difference in the world in their last hours of their lives. Believe me. :)

Exactly what do I need to understand?

[Jenya]

If you don't understand, you may later. I hope you don't experience it.

[Zoneboy]

If you don't understand, you may later. I hope you don't experience it.

Understand about cancer? Is that what you mean? If not then please be more specific.

[Jenya]

Understand about cancer? Is that what you mean? If not then please be more specific.
I'm not going to answer that. You would know yourself without questioning me.

[Zoneboy]

I'm not going to answer that. You would know yourself without questioning me.

Jenya, You're speaking in riddles. If you're trying to tell me that I know nothing about cancer or very little then just come out and say it & if not just say what you mean.

[Jenya]

Jenya, You're speaking in riddles. If you're trying to tell me that I know nothing about cancer or very little then just come out and say it & if not just say what you mean.

Zoneboy, You question me. I only tell you my experiences from my own life.

[dawsongirl]

I just watched her interview with Larry King. Wow...she looked like a totally different person. But I think she's happy where she is. Very courageous woman.

[dawsongirl]

I knew this would happen, The insensitivity and greed of people amazes me sometimes. :(

eBay (http://search.ebay.com/ws/search/SaleSearch?sofocus=bs&satitle=tammy+faye&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC5&fbd=1&_trksid=m37&from=R6&nojspr=y&pfid=0&fswc=1&few=&saprclo=&saprchi=&fss=0&saslop=1&sasl=&fls=4%26floc%3D1&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D0&salic=1&saatc=1&sadis=200&fpos=27317&fsct=&sacur=0&sacqyop=ge&sacqy=&sabfmts=0&saobfmts=exsif&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&sabdlo=&sabdhi=&saaff=afdefault&afcj=&afmp=&fsop=3%26fsoo%3D2&fcl=3&frpp=50)
Now why would someone even want an autographed pic of Jim Bakker?

[80sTrivia]

I knew that the end was very near when I saw her interview with Larry King, and I prayed that God would spare her anymore suffering. She was a courageous woman, may she rest in peace...

[Scoobiedoo30]

Rest in Peace Tammy

[ABlairican Pie]

Zoneboy, You question me. I only tell you my experiences from my own life.Yeah, I missed something there from him, too.
:confused:

It's very hard to deal with cancer, my mother died from it nearly three years ago. :(

It's interesting about Tammy Faye, twenty years ago, she was in all the news over the PTL scandals with her then-husband Jim Bakker, and in spite of
what anyone thought of his shyster-like ways, you couldn't say a bad thing about her. Some people thought she looked and acted over the top, but she really had a heart of gold and loved people. She really wanted to show people her heart for God. And she was one of the few Christian celebrities who came out in defense of gays, and even had gay actor Jm J Bullock ("Munroe" from 'Too Close For Comfort') in her ministry. I can believe where she is now, she has joy and peace.

[Janice]

Yeah, I missed something there from him, too.
:confused:
Maybe you can explain what Jenya was saying because I sure as hell didn't get what "We all need to understand and know, etc." Take it from the top, when I asked her. Zoneboy had it right, talking in riddles.

[Ireneparalegal]

Yeah, I missed something there from him, too.
:confused:

It's very hard to deal with cancer, my mother died from it nearly three years ago. :(

It's interesting about Tammy Faye, twenty years ago, she was in all the news over the PTL scandals with her then-husband Jim Bakker, and in spite of
what anyone thought of his shyster-like ways, you couldn't say a bad thing about her. Some people thought she looked and acted over the top, but she really had a heart of gold and loved people. She really wanted to show people her heart for God. And she was one of the few Christian celebrities who came out in defense of gays, and even had gay actor Jm J Bullock ("Munroe" from 'Too Close For Comfort') in her ministry. I can believe where she is now, she has joy and peace.
I agree with you. Even when she was at the lowest time of her life (the scandal) she stood by her man, she praised the Lord and had a smile on her face even when she was crying. I never heard her say a negative thing abt anyone with hate or disgust. She gained a new fan base when she appeared on Surreal Life. Right there she proved that even a porn star (Ron Jeremy) garners her respect and kindness, regardless of what he did or does for a living. She shunned no one. She spoke up for gays when it wasn't "fashionable" to do so. She defended those who had no one to defend them.

It saddened me to see her suffer with cancer for so long. I know as much as I loved my father, I am glad that he only had to deal with cancer for a month before dying from it. He didn't have to deal with chemo or radiation therapy, although he would have chosen that route if it meant he could live an additional two years.


Tammy wanted to live and she wasn't too proud or had too much vanity to show the world what it (therapy) did to her. She talked abt it and shared it with the world. What a lady. :)

[Zoneboy]

Yeah, I missed something there from him, too.
:confused:


It's the #2 killer of adults in the U.S., Second only to heart attacks and strokes.

It is widely believed that the chemo and radiation treatments are just as much responsible for deaths as the cancer which is why I will not accept the treatments of the medical profession should I ever be diagnosed with it.


And you need to understand that, Zoneboy.

There's something in my post that according to Jenya I need to understand. The problem is that she will not be more specific and talks only in riddles.

[Ireneparalegal]

Re-reading the posts I believe Jenya was pointing out your post where you mentioned cancer being the #2 cause of deaths of adults. I think Jenya wanted you to understand that figure and the fact that Cancer is here amongst us and there is hope if you choose to use the chemo/radiation therapy. It may or may not help all those afflicted with cancer, but in some cases, it does work and for those who choose that method, then that is their choice. Until something better comes along, that is the most common method to eradicate some cancers.

I hope that is what Jenya meant.

[Janice]

The entire conversation sounded like the 'Who's On First?' skit.

[Ireneparalegal]

It did didn't it? Like I said I had to re-read the posts. I didn't say HOW MANY TIMES I had to re-read them. :lol:

Ok, serious thread here.

[Zoneboy]

Re-reading the posts I believe Jenya was pointing out your post where you mentioned cancer being the #2 cause of deaths of adults. I think Jenya wanted you to understand that figure and the fact that Cancer is here amongst us and there is hope if you choose to use the chemo/radiation therapy. It may or may not help all those afflicted with cancer, but in some cases, it does work and for those who choose that method, then that is their choice. Until something better comes along, that is the most common method to eradicate some cancers.

I hope that is what Jenya meant.

You could be right but if so then she should've just come out and told me. As far as the chemo and radiation goes, You're right, It does save lives but it would be my last resort.

[bossradio93]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070722/ap_on_re_us/obit_tammy_faye_messner_19 (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070722/ap_on_re_us/obit_tammy_faye_messner_19)

Tammy Faye Messner dies at 65

By STEVE HARTSOE, Associated Press Writer

Sun Jul 22, 11:31 AM ET

RALEIGH, N.C. - Live one day at a time, without fear, Tammy Faye Messner said earlier this month as she battled cancer, weighing just 65 pounds.

Messner, who as Tammy Faye Bakker helped her husband, Jim, build a multimillion-dollar evangelism empire that collapsed in disgrace, has died, her manager said Saturday. She was 65.

Messner had battled colon cancer since 1996 that more recently spread to her lungs. She passed away peacefully Friday at her home near Kansas City, Mo., said Joe Spotts, who was also Messner's booking agent.

A family service was held Saturday in a private cemetery, where her ashes were interred, he said.

Messner had frequently spoken about her medical problems, saying she hoped to be an inspiration to others.

"Don't let fear rule your life," she said. "Live one day at a time, and never be afraid." But she told well-wishers in a note on her Web site in May that the doctors had stopped trying to treat the cancer.

In an interview with CNN's Larry King earlier this month, an emaciated Messner — still using her trademark makeup — said, "I believe when I leave this earth, because I love the Lord, I'm going straight to heaven." Asked if she had any regrets, Messner said: "I don't think about it, Larry, because it's a waste of good brain space."

For many, the TV image of then-Mrs. Bakker forgiving husband Jim's infidelities, tears streaking her cheeks with mascara, became a symbol for the wages of greed and hypocrisy in 1980s America.

She divorced her husband of 30 years, with whom she had two children, in 1992 while he was in prison for defrauding millions from followers of their PTL television ministries. The letters stood for "Praise the Lord" or "People that Love."

Jim Bakker said in a news release that his ex-wife "lived her life like the song she sang, 'If Life Hands You a Lemon, Make Lemonade.'"

"She is now in heaven with her mother and grandmother and Jesus Christ, the one who she loves and has served from childbirth," he said. "That is the comfort I can give to all who loved her."

Messner's second husband also served time in prison. She married Roe Messner, who had been the chief builder of the Bakkers' Heritage USA Christian theme park near Fort Mill, S.C., in 1993. In 1995, he was convicted of bankruptcy fraud, and he spent about two years in prison.

Through it all, Messner kept plugging her faith and herself. She did concerts, a short-lived secular TV talk show and an inspirational videotape. In 2004, she cooperated in the making of a documentary about her struggle with cancer, called "Tammy Faye: Death Defying."

"I wanted to help people ... maybe show the inside (of the experience) and make it a little less frightening," she said.

A 2000 documentary "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" delved into the rise and fall of the PTL ministry, largely through interviews with Messner. Directors Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato garnered wide critical praise for their intelligent and sympathetic depiction of the former PTL co-star.

Messner was never charged with a crime in the Bakker scandal. She said she counted the costs in other ways.

"I know what it's like to hit rock bottom," she said in promotional material for her 1996 video "You Can Make It."

Spotts said the family is considering a public memorial service for the coming weeks.

___

On the Net:

http://www.tammyfaye.com

Yahoo! News/AP-July 22, 2007

[Scoobiedoo30]

I belive she passed on Friday but wanterd Larry King to Break the news and that why we did not here until Saturday

[Ireneparalegal]

You could be right but if so then she should've just come out and told me. As far as the chemo and radiation goes, You're right, It does save lives but it would be my last resort.
My nephew's wife has Lupus and this Wednesday she will be going in for chemotherapy...her first. I had no idea that they used chemotherapy for other illnesses. As much as it is something she doesn't want to do, it is hope for her that it can help treat her Lupus. Her life is hard as it is with the disease. Maybe with this chemo, she can control the Lupus and have a better life. I guess, until one has a disease, it is easy to say what one would or wouldn't do as far as treatments are concerned.

[Zoneboy]

I guess, until one has a disease, it is easy to say what one would or wouldn't do as far as treatments are concerned.

I can't speak for anyone else but my choice was decided years ago. Cancer is extremely rare in our family although a cousin did pass away last week from lung cancer. In the past 40 years, I can recall only 4 having it and 2 of them survived.

[Ireneparalegal]

I can't speak for anyone else but my choice was decided years ago. Cancer is extremely rare in our family although a cousin did pass away last week from lung cancer. In the past 40 years, I can recall only 4 having it and 2 of them survived.
At least you know your family medical history. I am adopted, I haven't a clue as to what I may be carrying in my genes. Thank God you know.