María Salud Ramírez Caballero dead at 109: 'Tireless' Mexican woman who inspired character Mamá Coco from 2017 Pixar film Coco passes away

• The Secretary of Tourism for the Mexican state of Michoacan, Roberto Monroy, confirmed her death on Sunday but no official cause of death was revealed 
• Monroy remembered the legend as a 'tireless woman and life model' and revealed that Caballero passed away in Santa Fe de la Laguna which is the same town where she was born more than a century ago 
• She was given the nickname of 'Mama Coco' after the character of the same name she had inspired in the animated film 
• Disney had never officially acknowledged that Caballero is the inspiration for the beloved character but her family claims that a team from Pixar had visited their area and extensively photographed her and even lived with them for a while
• Her family had been working to have her recognized as the inspiration for Mama Coco since the release of the film in 2017 but have been unsuccessful 
• Caballero was a clay craftswoman who made pots in addition to other items and sold to locals
• Coco was a worldwide box office sensation as it grossed $210.5million in the US and Canada and $597.4million in other countries for a total of $807.8million 

 Maria Salud Ramirez Caballero - a Mexican woman who reportedly served as the inspiration for one of the main characters in 2017 Pixar film Coco - has passed away aged 109.

The Secretary of Tourism for the Mexican state of Michoacan, Roberto Monroy, confirmed her death on Sunday but no official cause of death was revealed.

Monroy remembered the legend as a 'tireless woman and life model' and revealed that Caballero passed away in Santa Fe de la Laguna which is the same town where she was born more than a century ago. 

He said in a statement: 'I am deeply saddened by the passing of Maria Salud Ramirez Caballero, "Mama Coco", a tireless woman and example of life, who was the inspiration for this beloved character that went around the world.

'I pray for her eternal rest and for her family to find peace of mind.' 

She was given the nickname of 'Mama Coco' after the character of the same name she had inspired in the animated film.

The Disney flick is centered around aspiring musician Miguel, confronted with his family's ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer. 

Mama Coco was voiced by Ana Ofelia Murguía in the film.

Disney had never officially acknowledged that Caballero is the inspiration for the beloved character but her family claims that a team from Pixar had visited their area and extensively photographed her and even lived with them for a while.

Her family had been working to have her recognized as the inspiration for Mama Coco since the release of the film in 2017 but have been unsuccessful.

Caballero was a clay craftswoman who made pots in addition to other items and sold to locals.

She is survived by three children, many grandchildren, and several great grandchildren. 

 Coco was a worldwide box office sensation as it grossed $210.5million in the US and Canada and $597.4million in other countries for a total of $807.8million.