Maggie Peterson, the singer and actress known for her recurring role on The Andy Griffith Show as Charlene Darling, died Sunday in Colorado aged 81. Her family announced her death Monday.

In a statement, her family said that the actress’ health “took a turn for the worse” in the wake of the December death of her husband, Las Vegas-based jazz musician Gus Mancuso.

“It is with great sorrow that we report that our dear Aunt Maggie died yesterday afternoon (Sunday, May 15),” their statement read. “She passed peacefully in her sleep with her family present.”

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“Maggie’s health took a turn for the worse after the death of her husband Gus and we are relieved that we were able to move her home to be close to family for her last days,” the relative shared. “We will be planning a private service for Maggie in the next few weeks. Although this fundraiser will no longer be accepting donations, we will keep it open for a few more weeks in order to communicate with this community.”

Mancuso and Peterson were married for more than 40 years.

“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Maggie Peterson Mancuso,” a statement from The Andy Griffith Museum also read. “Maggie will forever be remembered by Mayberry Fans as Charlene Darling on ‘The Andy Griffith Show.’ She brought so much joy to her fans, and to our Mayberry Days Festival. We will miss you Maggie.”

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Peterson first appeared on CBS’ The Andy Griffith Show as Charlene in 1963 near the end of the comedy’s third season. She appeared on four other episodes of the show through 1966. She then played another character on the 1968 episode “A Girl for Goober” in the final season.

She returned as Charlene in the 1986 telefilm Return to Mayberry and also became part of other shows including Green Acres, Gomer Pyle: USMC, The Odd Couple and Love, American Style.

Peterson was born on Jan. 10, 1941, in Greeley, Colorado. Her father was a doctor and her mother a homemaker.

After retiring from acting in the late 1980s, she worked for the Nevada Film Commission and served as a location manager on films such as Casino (1995), Mars Attacks! (1996) and Pay It Forward (2000).