Tammy Faye Bakker 1942- 2007

Tammy Faye Messner has died of cancer  at the age of 65.

Mrs. Messner died Friday at her home in Kansas City Missouri, the family asked the announcement be delayed, her death was announced on Larry King Live Saturday night.

Messner was a guest on “Larry King Live” on Thursday. She said she couldn’t swallow food, and weighed only 65 pounds.

King asked her Thursday if she were “a little scared?”

She responded, “A little bit,” adding that she mainly worried about her family.

She made dramatic appearances on the now-defunct, Christian PTL Network she started with then-husband Jim Bakker, its host. Before millions of viewers, she would often break into tears, prompting her trademark heavy mascara to run.

After divorcing Bakker, who became steeped in money and sex scandals, she married Christian construction magnate and former PTL contractor Roe Messner in 1993. Tammy Faye was married to Bakker more than 30 years.

She underwent surgery for colon cancer in 1996. In 2004, she revealed that the disease had spread to her lungs, and in May 2007 she announced that her doctors had stopped trying to treating the illness.

In her appearance on CNN’s “Larry King Live,” Tammy Faye Messner was a shadow of her former self.

“I believe when I leave this Earth, because I love the Lord, I am going straight to heaven,” she said.

King said she had sought the interview.

She told King she was bedridden most of the time, had trouble swallowing food — hence the weight loss — and was in near-constant pain.

 

Tammy Faye Messner 18/07/07

 

The server for her site is overloaded again, since she announced she had stage 4 cancer earlier this year, her website has been flooded with messages from fans wishing her well.

She is survived by her son Jay, her daughter Tammy Sue, her current husband Roe Messner, former husband Jim Bakker and grandchildren.

According to Tammy Faye’s wishes she was cremated today and her ashes were buried in a private ceremony. A public celebration for the former televangelist will be announced at a future date.

Jim Bakker – wiki
Jim Bakker Show
Tammy Fay Messner – wiki
Jay Bakker – Revolution

One of the more interesting sites online is Heritage USA, featuring PTL history and pictures from the past and present of the property in Fort Mill, SC. 
Photo site:  Heritage USA – Ghost Town in Fort Mills

 

Update: Over 1000 blog posts about Tammy Faye’s death. Interestingly a fair number of people are talking about a book they read on the PTL scandal by one of the investigative reporters at The Charlotte Observer. I believe they are referring to Forgiven: The Rise and Fall of Jim Bakker and the PTL Ministry. Charles E. Shepard. Atlantic Monthly Press. (Out of print) 1989 NYT review.