Lady Bird made own funeral arrangements

AUSTIN, Texas, July 13 (UPI) -- A family spokeswoman said Lady Bird Johnson played a major role in planning her own funeral and final tributes taking place in her native Texas.

Elizabeth Christian told USA Today that the former first lady, who died Wednesday of respiratory failure at the age of 94, had a hand in everything that's being done.

"She herself started thinking about her passing in 1988," Christian said with final details left to her two daughters, Lynda Johnson Robb and Luci Baines Johnson.

The Austin Wildflower Center that Johnson helped found was chosen as the site for an invitation-only service Friday, USA Today said. A private funeral service was set for Saturday afternoon at the 2,300-seat Riverbend Centre in Austin.

Among those expected to attend are first lady Laura Bush, former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton along with former first ladies Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton.

On Sunday thousands of Texans are expected to line the streets of Austin to view the passing of Johnson's funeral cortege as it makes it way from the State Capitol to her burial place at the Johnson family cemetery in Stonewall, Texas.