The Associated Press
Thursday, July 12, 2007; 6:26 PM

WASHINGTON -- Laura Bush is canceling a scheduled appearance Saturday in Indiana to attend Lady Bird Johnson's funeral.

The first lady will attend the services in Austin, Texas, with her mother-in-law, former first lady Barbara Bush, her office said Thursday. Mrs. Johnson is to lie in repose at the Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum on Friday and Saturday, until a private funeral and burial in the Johnson family cemetery.

Laura Bush had been planning to speak Saturday at the commencement exercises for the University of Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education. The school provides teachers to under-resourced Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the South.

Mrs. Johnson, widow of President Lyndon B. Johnson, died Wednesday at the age of 94 at her Austin home.

President Bush opened a news conference Thursday with kind words for her.

"Yesterday, America lost an extraordinary first lady and a fine Texan, Lady Bird Johnson," he said. "She brought grace to the White House and beauty to our country."

Bush sent condolences and prayers to the Johnson family.

Later in the day, the president ordered all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff on Saturday in honor of Mrs. Johnson's funeral and "as a mark of respect" for her memory.