Popeye obliterated in obituary

The obituary of a 75-year-old Texas man who died last month is causing a bit of a stir. Posted by family members, it starts: “Leslie Ray ‘Popeye’ Charping lived 29 years longer than expected, and much longer than he deserved.” The obituary got so much attention that readers apparently crashed the local funeral home’s website.

The obituary gave details of the dead man’s hobbies, such as “being abusive to his family and expediting trips to heaven for the beloved family pets”. It also spoke to his life and character in general, noting: “Leslie’s life served no obvious purpose”, and that he had pleaded guilty to two assaults including pouring hot liquid over his wife. The family refer to the man as “evil”, adding “there will be no prayers for eternal peace and no apologies from the family he tortured .... His remains will be cremated and kept in the barn until Ray, the family donkey’s wood shavings run out.”

The Insider finds this painful candour immensely satisfying and quite moving. The notion that one becomes a saint the moment one dies is patently ludicrous. And sometimes it is only safe to speak ill of someone once they are dead. Others disagree; the family was berated, denigrated and threatened online by the inevitably outraged anonymous masses.

The daughter’s response was swift, honest and commendable. “For those being cruel, please remember that you now resemble my father and I would be more than happy to pen your obituary as well.” May the late “Popeye” Charping rest in pieces.