Justice Scalia's children and grandchildren have paid tribute to him while his doctor has raised questions about the veteran jurist's health.

The 79-year-old, who had been on the Supreme Court bench since 1986, is believed to have had a history of heart problems, high blood pressure and was too weak to have a shoulder operation.

He was found dead at a ranch in Texas during a retreat with friends and admirers, prompting a flood of tributes from his loved ones.

Many uploaded pictures of him holding his grandchildren in more relaxed settings, away from the courtroom.

His grandson Antonin 'Nino' Scalia, named after the justice. led the heartfelt messages from his family, referring to him as 'Pop-Pop'.

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Scalia's grand-son Antonin 'Nino' Scalia led the heartfelt messages from his family, referring to him as 'Pop-Pop' in a tribute

He also posted a picture of himself as a child, cradled in the arms of his late father

A picture on his Facebook profile shows him with Scalia's son Eugene (right) and other relatives including granddaughter Megan (second from left)

On Facebook, he wrote: 'I am overwhelmed and deeply grateful for the outpouring of support which my family and I have received. My grandfather was one of my heroes in life, and will remain as such.

'He was much more than a brilliant intellectual, he was a loving grandfather, someone whom I loved deeply.

'There are no words to adequately encapsulate the man that he was, nor accurately describe the profound impact that he has had on my life and the lives of others.

'I share his name proudly, and find consolation in knowing that he is now in a far greater place.'

Granddaughter Megan, a student at the University of Virginia, also referred to him as 'Pop-Pop' and shared one his quotes.

'Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world.'

His daughter Catherine uploaded a picture of her father outside of the courtroom, wearing a bucket hat and sunglasses.

Scalia's daughter-in-law Adele, who is married to his son Christopher, posted a picture of the American flag at half staff outside the Supreme Court.

Presidio County Judge Cinderela Guevara, who was one of the first Texas officials notified of his death on Saturday, has raised new questions about his health.

She says the doctor told her Scalia had a history of heart trouble, high blood pressure and was considered too weak to undergo surgery for a recent shoulder injury.

Granddaughter Megan (center), a student at the University of Virginia, also referred to him as 'Pop-Pop' and shared one his quotes

Scalia's daughter-in-law Adele, who is married to his son Christopher, posted a picture of the American flag at half mast outside the Supreme Court. She also posted a picture of them in a relaxed setting with one of his granddaughters

Christopher also uploaded a picture of his mother and father in the wake of his death

Those details are seemingly at odds with the recollections of friends who described Scalia has his usual, happy self during the time leading up to his death.

Unlike presidents, the high court's members don't provide regular health disclosures to the public.

Guevara didn't see his body and did not order an autopsy, a decision permissible under Texas law, but she still ruled the death a heart attack.

She initially had determined an autopsy was needed. But she changed her mind after speaking with Scalia's physician Saturday evening.

She said the lack of signs of foul play coupled with his doctor confirming Scalia's history of heart trouble and other illnesses meant the justice likely died of natural causes.

Chris Lujan, a manager for Sunset Funeral Homes in Texas, said his was taken from the El Paso facility late Sunday afternoon and was to be flown to Virginia, although he had no details.

Scalia's family didn't think a private autopsy was necessary and requested that his remains be returned to Washington as soon as possible, Lujan said.

Scalia's weekend death was as much of a shock to those at the ranch as it was to the rest of the nation

The owner of Cibolo Creek Ranch near Marfa, where Scalia died, said the justice seemed his usual self at dinner the night before he was found 'in complete repose' in his room.

His daughter Catherine uploaded a picture of her father outside of the courtroom, wearing a bucket hat and sunglasses

John Poindexter told reporters Scalia was part of a group of about 35 weekend guests. He arrived Friday around noon.

The group had dinner Friday night and Scalia was his 'usual, personable self,' Poindexter said. Scalia retired around 9 p.m., saying he wanted a long night's sleep, according to Poindexter.

A procession that included about 20 law enforcement officers arrived in the early hours Sunday at the funeral home more than three hours from the ranch, Lujan said.

Kristina Mills, a history teacher at nearby Chapin High School, came to the funeral home to pay her respects and brought flowers.

'Recognizing his contribution to serving our country just compelled me to come,' she said. 'I wanted to do yellow roses because for him dying in Texas. I didn't want his family to have bad memories of Texas.'

In the nation's capital, where flags flew at half-staff at the White House and Supreme Court, the political sniping soared, raising the prospect of a court short-handed for some time.

The Senate's Republican leader, backed largely by his party's White House candidates, essentially told a Democratic president in his final year in office not to bother asking lawmakers to confirm a nominee for the lifetime seat.

His daughter Meg uploaded this picture of Justice Scalia holding two of his grandchildren

Scalia's colleagues praised his brilliance and grieved his death. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said she and Scalia 'were best buddies' for more than 30 years. Justice Clarence Thomas said, 'It is hard to imagine the court without my friend.'

President Barack Obama ordered flags to be flown at half-staff at the high court, where Scalia served for three decades, and other federal buildings throughout the nation and U.S. embassies and military installations throughout the world.

While flags were being lowered, the campaign-year political heat has risen over the vacancy on the nine-member court.

At issue is whether Obama, in his last year in office, should make a nomination and the Republican-led Senate should confirm that choice in an election year.

Obama pledges a nomination 'in due time.' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., thinks it should wait for the next president.

The Republican resistance to an election-year confirmation got a thorough public airing on the GOP debate stage just hours after Scalia's companions found him dead.

Republicans argued that Obama, as a lame duck, should not fill the vacancy created by Scalia's death, but leave it to the next president — which they hope will be one of them.

The Constitution gives the Senate 'advice and consent' powers over a presidential nomination to the Supreme Court. Ted Cruz, one of the two GOP senators running for president, told NBC's 'Meet the Press' that the GOP-controlled Senate is doing its job.

'We're advising that a lame-duck president in an election year is not going to be able to tip the balance of the Supreme Court,' Cruz said.

But the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would hold hearings on a nominee, said it would be 'sheer dereliction of duty for the Senate not to have a hearing, not to have a vote.'