(CNN) - President Barack Obama called the family of Josephine "Ann" Harris from Air Force One to express his condolences after Harris died Friday not long after his visit to the Akron, Ohio restaurant she owned.
Harris, 70, passed away in the emergency room at Akron General Medical Center at 11:18 a.m. ET, the chief investigator for the Summit County Medical Examiner's office confirmed to CNN.
No official cause of death is known at this time.
Obama talked to Harris' daughter, Wilma Parsons, to tell her he was honored to meet her mother Friday and to pass on his thoughts and prayers, according to White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.
President Barack Obama talks with customers at Ann's Place on Friday morning. Pool photo.
The president visited the restaurant, Ann's Place, Friday morning for breakfast at the start of the second day of his bus tour through Ohio and Pennsylvania.
While Harris was not in the restaurant Friday morning, she drove up to the diner to meet with the president and take a photo outside.
– CNN's Brianna Keilar and Justin Lear contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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Republican Spin:
President, kills another hard working citizen. Will the carnage never cease?
Tinfoil hat time!
Republican bafoons will try to blame president Obama for it . I'm very sorry for your loss ,we DEMS care .
Sorry guys, but regardless of which side you're on, this was a person who died...a fellow human being. We should all have the tact to keep it off limits in terms of using it for arguments and insults and snark.
My prayers and thoughts go out to Josephine's family. May you rest in peace.
The media should quickly move forward and not mention her passing again. Pl. leave it to the family members to pray for her eternal journey. Neither political party should evermention it again.
@Sniffit: You are so right! I'm not sure it even needed to be reported here.
Very sad to hear. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.
R.I.Paradise Miss. Ann.....
I wish her soul rest in peaceful world...
[ ] <-a moment of silence
R.I.P Ann Harries
I seen the photo in H post great picture
In 5-4-3-2-1 let the GOP/Tea-Crank hate begin. God Bless you Ms. Ann
And this too will be President Obama's fault....please let this family deal with their loss and do NOT mention this story again on a polictal ticker...Thank you CNN.
Did she get pics with the pres?? Hello!! RIP
I'm telling you, this guy has bad joo joo. Heartfelt prayers to her family and loved ones.
The thought of four more years was probably too much for her to bear.
Thankyou Sniffit.
Sorry to hear. May her soul rest in peace. Obama12.
God bless Josephine and her family.
some of the people on this message board are Sad, a woman lost her life and the fact that it happened the day after the President of the US dined at her establishment is probably more of a gift from God than anything else
Not many people have a chance to really meet a sitting President, more than just a ripe line handshake. I hope her life was rich and full. Condolences to friends and family.
Wow! That is something! The president is now "spreading" death in Ohio. Last time he ran, he was "spreading wealth" as I recall.
Thats okay the "pres" just gave amnesty to a million illegal aliens to take over her business, to promote diversity and make the community stronger by sending even more trillions out of our economy to mehico
I do believe that the president, hearing of this womans death would quietly contact the family himself . I really think he has that kind of dignity and heart.. Bless her....I'm not sure i'd still be standing if I had the chance to meet Barak Obama!!!