Jeanne Cagney - Remembering a Star

Today is Mrs. Morrison's Birthday.
Recently someone wrote to me asking about her and how I knew her. After I wrote back, I decided on her birthday I would re-tell the story that I had previously only told to him.

She was one of my girlfriend's mother.
We both lived in Athens, Ohio during the time. But I actually didn't meet her until sometime later here in Southern California.

She was living in Newport Beach at the time. I had talked to her a couple of times briefly at the house when I would go over, but you don't usually engage your friend's parents in conversation, you know?

Many years later, after I had lost touch with my girlfriend, I went to a women's luncheon and Mrs. Morrison was the guest speaker. I went up to her, to say hi, and she took me aside and sat with me awhile. She was so nice and talked to me like an old friend. I will never forget how gracious she was towards me. She said you don't know this, but the reason I am speaking today is because I have cancer. She went on to say, I wanted to tell you privately before you heard me speak. I didn't want for you to be shocked or upset. She said she was in remission and feeling much better and was there to speak of her ordeal and to give others hope and to speak of her faith in God.

Then even in her speech, she stopped and introduced me. She made me feel as if I were special. That was the last time I saw her. I cried the day I read the news of her death. Privately. Like a friend had passed. No one even knew I knew her, as I did.

Aside from being the sister of James Cagney, she was a star in her own right. You can out more about her film career here: IMDb

She was beautiful, charming and gracious.

Birth: Mar. 25, 1919
Death: Dec. 7, 1984