Television icon Beatrice (Bea) Arthur, best known for her roles as Maude Findley and Dorothy Zbornak on the classic small screen series
Maude and
The Golden Girls, passed away early Saturday after a lengthy battle with cancer. Now her on-screen roommates, Emmy-winning
Golden Girls Betty White and Rue McClanahan, are paying tribute to their late co-star.
"Bea was such an important part of a very happy time in my life and I have dearly