and illustrate books such as Raggedy Ann and the Golden Meadow (1935), which was completed with the assistance of his son, Worth. The father-and-son duo also collaborated on a series of illustrated Raggedy Ann proverbs that were syndicated in newspapers. In addition, Gruelle produced humorous cartoons and made public appearances, but took time away from work to pursue his hobby of collecting automobiles. Although the Great Depression of the 1930s caused some setbacks that included the bankruptcy of his primary publisher, P. F. Volland, and a lawsuit for patent and trademark infringement that he finally won on appeal in 1937, Gruelle and his family continued to experience an active life in Florida until stress took its toll on Gruelle's health.Hall, Johnny Gruelle, Creator of Raggedy Ann and Andy, p. 170. Death and legacy He died unexpectedly of heart failure at his son Worth's home in Miami Springs, Florida, on January 9, 1938, two weeks after his fifty-seventh birthday.Hall, Johnny Gruelle, Creator of Raggedy Ann and Andy, p. 178. His remains are interred at Silvermine Cemetery in New Canaan, Fairfield County, Connecticut. Following Gruelle's death, his widow, Myrtle (Swann) Gruelle, took legal action to secure the rights to his works, trademarks, and patents. She also continued her efforts to promote his legacy through the Johnny Gruelle Company, the Bobbs-Merrill Company, and other commercial agreements. In a career that spanned forty years, Gruelle was an author and/or illustrator of dozens of books and contributed cartoons and illustrations to at least ten newspapers, four major new syndicates, and more than a dozen national magazines. Despite the diversity of his work, Gruelle is best known as the illustrator, author, and the creator of the Raggedy Ann doll and related books, illustrations, and characters. By the time of his death in 1938, his first Raggedy Ann book had sold more than 3 million copies. The iconic Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls that Gruelle designed and their related memorabilia have become sought-after collectors' items. Gruelle also left a legacy of other artistic and literary works. Although he was inspired by many sources and most of his work was based on traditional European folktales, Gruelle developed his own storytelling style. Many of his stories for children included parables about the virtues of "sharing, compassion, and telling the truth." In addition to his prose, Gruelle used his illustrations to tell stories of magical lands, fanciful animals, and