Mae Louise Allen Mays, the wife of San Francisco Giants legend Willie Mays, died in her sleep Friday morning after a 16-year bout with Alzheimer's disease.
She was 74. The couple were married for 41 years.
"Mae died peacefully and without pain," Malcolm Heinicke, the Mays family attorney, said in a statement.
"Willie is now grieving the loss of his beautiful wife of more than four decades, but he is staying strong by remembering all of the many experiences they enjoyed together. Mae was a beautiful person, and although her illness took some of her memories late in life, Mae passed with full knowledge that Willie loved her dearly. Willie appreciates all of the well wishes of his friends and fans during this difficult time."