Brutal obit says hated father’s remains will be used in donkey stall

A Texas daughter is not apologizing for a scathing obituary in which she called her father an evil man whose ashes will be used to soak up donkey excrement in the family barn.

“Leslie Ray ‘Popeye’ Charping was born in Galveston on November 20, 1942 and passed away January 30, 2017, which was 29 years longer than expected and much longer than he deserved,” began the tribute which went downhill fast from there.

“This may be the most brutal, honest obituary ever,” declared the headline on a CNN story about the not-so-dearly-departed.

The memorial, which was placed on a mortuary’s website but has since been taken down, went on to say that Charping was an abusive man who left behind “two relieved children” as well as “countless other victims.”

Not mincing words, the daughter further wrote that her father was “a model example of bad parenting combined with mental illness and a complete commitment to drinking, drugs, womanizing and being generally offensive.” His hobbies included “being abusive to his family,” and “expediting trips to heaven for the beloved family pets.”

The obit did say that Charping was a former Navy veteran and a military boxing champ, but even that was overshadowed by his daughter’s declaration that her dad only joined the military as part of a deal to avoid criminal charges and not in “a brave & patriotic way.”

“Leslie’s life served no other obvious purpose, he did not contribute to society or serve his community and he possessed no redeeming qualities,” she wrote.

The daughter, who did not want her name used, told KTRK in Houston that she wrote the honest obit because she felt it would have been wrong to portray her father as anything other than who he was.

“I told the truth,” she told the ABC new station. “I am not sorry for telling the truth, and I am not sorry for standing up for myself.”

She added that she appreciated the people who offered condolences, prayers and understanding and — for those who criticized — she had this to say.

“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.” She also said that her father, who hated liars, would have appreciated the honesty.

The obit ended with the notice that there will be no services and “no prayers for eternal peace” and the news that Charping will be cremated and kept in the barn until the “family donkey’s wood shavings run out.”

619-293-1710

debbi.baker@sduniontribune.com

twitter.com/Debbi_Baker