Sen. John McCain's Mother-In-Law Dies

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, speaks on behalf of New Jersey Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tom Kean Jr., right, during a "Family Fun Day" fundraiser for Kean's campaign against incumbent Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez at in Edison, N.J. on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2006. (AP Photo/Christopher Barth) (Christopher Barth - AP)

PHOENIX -- Sen. John McCain's mother-in-law died Sunday morning following a long illness.

Marguerite Hensley passed away peacefully with her daughter and McCain's wife, Cindy McCain, at her side, said McCain spokeswoman Melissa Shuffield.

"She was a wonderful woman who played such an important role within our family, and always demonstrated her unending support, love and wit," McCain said in a press release.

Hensley was the wife of James Hensley, founder of Hensley & Company, the Phoenix area Anheuser-Busch distributor. James Hensley died in June 2000.

Citing Hensley's illness, McCain canceled a luncheon in Rochester, N.Y., for Republican Rep. Thomas Reynolds. He did campaign Sunday for Republican Tom Kean Jr. in the New Jersey Senate race.

Shuffield said it was too early to tell if McCain would cancel more events in the upcoming week.