Yes, a tragic loss.
In the almost ten years that we've lived in our suburban Atlanta home (that backs up to wooded/pond acreage), we've have had three snakes that have fallen victim to similarly natural diseases. Two were struck down in their prime by buckshot poisoning and the other had a sever case of German Shepard Toothitis.
We too were saddened by their untimely deaths.
Bluish moc, but with reddish tints. Does yours have those tints?