Donna Douglas, who played Elly May Clampett on the 1960s hit sitcom Beverly Hillbillies, died Thursday. She was 82. Her niece, Charlene Smith, said that she died of pancreatic cancer at Baton Rouge General Hospital near her home.

Several TV stations and news outlets put her age at 81, but Smith firmly said she was 82. Smith joked that Douglas would haunt her for that correction.

Douglas is survived by her only son, Danny Bourgeois, three grandchilren, two great-grandchildren, a brother and other extended family. The family is set to have a private funeral.

Douglas was best known for her role as Elly May on the Beverly Hillbillies, the sitcom focusing on an Ozark family who moves to Beverly Hills after becoming rich from oil that was found on their land. The character she played was an oblivious blond bombshell who had tomboy characteristics and an obsession with critters. And she was constantly unaware of the effect she had on men.

Her story was much like Elly May’s rags-to-riches story. In an interview with The Advocate, she said that playing the part was like “a slice” from her own life and that she knew “everything about Elly.” Douglas enjoyed being associated with Elly May, for she said that the character is very relatable. Fans’ love for Elly May was meaningful to her.

Smith agreed and said that she was a happy person and loved animals like Elly May did in the show, according to The Associated Press. Smith called her a “good Christian lady.”

The final living Beverly Hillbillies cast member, Max Baer Jr., said that she was Elly May until she died. When he would see her at autograph signings or gatherings, she would have her signature pigtails in and she was wearing blue or pink.

Beverly Hillbillies ran for nine years from 1962 to 1971 on CBS. Critics were not huge fans of the show, but it consistently held a large viewership and ranked in the top most-watched TV programs during its time. In 1963 Douglas won the title Miss Golden Globe for her work as Elly May, and in 2004 Beverly Hillbillies was voted favorite “fish out of water” at the TV Land awards.

Douglas began her career participating in beauty pageants. She won the title of Miss Baton Rouge and Miss New Orleans. But a trip to New York helped her dig her way into the entertainment industry. Her first gigs were working as the Letters Girl on the 1957 TV program The Perry Como Show and as the Billboard Girl on the 1959 TV program The Steve Allen Show.

She caught her first big break when she landed a role in the film Career starring Shirley MacLaine and Dean Martin, which hit the screens in 1959. She also played a secretary for Tony Randall in Lover Come Back, the 1961 romantic comedy starring Doris Day and Rock Hudson. Additionally, she appeared in an episode of The Twilight Zone and starred with Elvis Presley in Frankie and Johnny before taking on her role as Elly May.

After her acting career ended, Douglas went on to record gospel and country albums, work in real estate and write a children’s book with religious undertones.