obituary had to be truthful to allow healing for herself

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Man’s Savage Obituary Chronicles Life Of Womanizing And Abuse
Final "tribute" written by daughter describes a life of reckless behavior, physical and mental abuse, womanizing and pain.
By Bryan Kirk (Patch Staff) - February 16, 2017 5:36 pm ET
Man’s Savage Obituary Chronicles Life Of Womanizing And Abuse

GALVESTON, TX — Obituaries are often meant to provide a sense of closure and can also be viewed as something of a final tribute to those who die and leave an indelible impression on our lives. Leslie Ray "Popeye" Charping, who died at the end of January, was one of those people who left an impression on his family, albeit hardly a positive one.

Charping was 74 when he died of cancer on Jan. 30, and according to his obituary, it “was 29 years longer than expected and much longer than he deserved.”

The obituary appeared on the Carnes Funeral Home webpage and quickly gained widespread readership online, not because of its sweetness and tender tribute, but because of the biting reality of a life, that in the view of his family and acquaintances, just wasn’t well-lived.

“Leslie's life served no other obvious purpose, he did not contribute to society or serve his community and he possessed no redeeming qualities besides quick whited (sic) sarcasm which was amusing during his sober days.”

The obituary was written by Charping’s daughter, Sheila Smith, who went on to describe the habits of a man prone to numerous get-rich-quick schemes, substance abuse and womanizing, verbally abusing his family and lawlessness.

Smith recently appeared in a phone interview on a Houston area radio program to explain the obituary had to be truthful to allow healing for herself her family and anyone else associated with Charping.

Smith described a father’s fiery temper that only served to alienate his family from him and caused everyone a great deal of heartache.

Charping ultimately made his peace with God on his deathbed, and according to a caretaker was remorseful in the end for the pain he’d caused.

Despite the pain, Smith wept for her father.

Charping was cremated, and his family, at their father’s request, held no memorial service for him.

Below is the obituary in its entirety:

"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. Leslie battled with cancer in his latter years and lost his battle, ultimately due to being the horses ass he was known for. He leaves behind 2 relieved children; a son Leslie Roy Charping and daughter, Shiela Smith along with six grandchildren and countless other victims including an ex wife, relatives, friends, neighbors, doctors, nurses and random strangers.

"At a young age, Leslie quickly became a model example of bad parenting combined with mental illness and a complete commitment to drinking, drugs, womanizing and being generally offensive. Leslie enlisted to serve in the Navy, but not so much in a brave & patriotic way but more as part of a plea deal to escape sentencing on criminal charges. While enlisted, Leslie was the Navy boxing champion and went on to sufficiently embarrass his family and country by spending the remainder of his service in the Balboa Mental Health Hospital receiving much needed mental healthcare services.

"Leslie was surprisingly intelligent, however he lacked ambition and motivation to do anything more than being reckless, wasteful, squandering the family savings and fantasizing about get rich quick schemes. Leslie's hobbies included being abusive to his family, expediting trips to heaven for the beloved family pets and fishing, which he was less skilled with than the previously mentioned. Leslie's life served no other obvious purpose, he did not contribute to society or serve his community and he possessed no redeeming qualities besides quick whited sarcasm which was amusing during his sober days.

"With Leslie's passing he will be missed only for what he never did; being a loving husband, father and good friend. No services will be held, there will be no prayers for eternal peace and no apologizes to the family he tortured. Leslie's remains will be cremated and kept in the barn until 'Ray,' the family donkey's wood shavings run out. Leslie's passing proves that evil does in fact die and hopefully marks a time of healing and safety for all."

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