A two word obituary has gone viral.
Douglas Legler, an 85-year-old prankster known for his goofy sense of humor, died on Saturday in Fargo, North Dakota. However, before his passing, he gave his loving family very specific instructions as to what to include in his obituary.
While most obituaries contain kind words describing the lives of their loved ones, Legler only wanted two words to appear in his: “Doug died.”
“He said over and over, when I die I want my obituary to just say, ‘Doug Died,’” Legler’s daughter Janet Stoll told WDAY. “[Other people’s obituaries] would say, ‘He was the president of this, a director of this,’ and Dad would say, ‘What, couldn’t they hold down a job?’”
The North Dakota newspaper the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead ran the obituary on Wednesday alongside a photo of Legler smiling happily.
‘Doug Died.’ http://t.co/fhT0xRWRbm pic.twitter.com/83y7MseYyA
— inforum (@inforum) July 1, 2015
According to the Forum , Legler was a “longtime driver for Nash Finch, later working in vending machine repair and painting farm equipment.” He was an aspiring singer with a love of country music, especially Ernest Tubb, and even placed second in a talent show once. He was a car lover and took an occasional trip to the casinos.
Stoll describes her father as someone who could put a smile on anyone’s face and had the ability to make himself, as well as others, laugh.
“He was very lighthearted and had a great sense of humor,” she said. “He was very quick-witted, and funny. He was one of a kind, he really was. Everyone loved him that met him.”
Man leaves everyone laughing when he requests his obituary to simply read: “Doug died.” http://t.co/7INVy7AL5R pic.twitter.com/8p97HNWCnf
— WAFF 48 (@waff48) July 2, 2015
While it wouldn’t seem like Legler would have much to be happy about, his carefree spirit carried on one tragedy after another. His girlfriend, Renee, passed away last fall, and his wife Beverly, Stoll’s mother, died 17 years ago.
“He loved my mom deeply… she was the love of his life,” she said. “He loved them both. He was kindhearted and generous. He didn’t realize how much people loved and cared about him.”
Stoll described Legler’s obituary as his final joke.
“I’m sure he’s laughing up there now,” Stoll said.
[Photo via Shutterstock]
