So today on the podcast, we will finish our story about Mary Blair, the person who many believed was Walt Disney's favorite artist.

On the podcast, this has been one of our longest and most detailed series, which by the time we finish later today will have covered most of the 20th century,

and also covered significant periods and projects

in the development of the Disney Company. And so at the end of our last episode, we were at the

point where Mary had suffered a stroke and had been taken to the hospital in Santa Cruz. Lee was with her, but her son Kevin was driving up from San Diego where he was stationed in the Navy.

And that is exactly where we pick up the story today.

For most of the night, Lee remained with his wife, who had faded into a state of unconsciousness

at the hospital.

It was clear now that she had little time left.

Her breathing was slow.

She moved very little.

Lee later described Mary as giving him one final

wonderful smile, perhaps as a sign of forgiveness, or as she remembered the good times they had

experienced many years ago. Kevin arrived at the hospital early in the morning while his mother was still alive,

but unconscious. She was not awake, Kevin said. I was very, very tired. Both Lee and Kevin

knew that it was unlikely that Mary would regain consciousness. They also knew that it could be a long week.

A person in Mary's state might have hours or a few days left.

With this understanding, Kevin decided to go to his parents' house, get some sleep, and conserve his energy.

He slept for a few hours, then drove back.

I showed up ten or fifteen minutes after she had died, he said.

They had wheeled her body out, and I never saw her again.

Two days after her death, Ken Sealing at the Disney studio sent an inner office memo to all employees.

...