Thomas Carroll, 77; answered the phone with ‘Salvation Army’

He couldn't start his day without reading the newspaper cover to cover, making sure he checked his lottery and power ball numbers, because that one time he almost hit it but was off by one number, and walking to the mailbox to check the mail. (H/T New Haven Register)

Jan Lynch, “an incredible woman”

She taught us that all the really good things in life are beyond the "Do Not Enter" signs. (H/T Peter Elikann

Rick Stein, 71, flew plane into the ocean ... or not

Rick Stein, 71, of Wilmington was reported missing and presumed dead on September 27, 2018 when investigators say the single-engine plane he was piloting, The Northrop, suddenly lost communication with air traffic control and disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Rehoboth Beach.(H/T Carol Snyder Foltz)

Jean Crompton, danced, traveled, and crocheted her way through life

After retirement, Jean became impossible to track down. She might be at a motorcycle rally or in Hong Kong. She crewed on a schooner, attended the Atlanta Olympics, and rode the river rapids, all in her 70s.

George Albert Lane set course for Elysium, Friday 3rd August

≈Wherever you found him, however he regaled you, George's salty wit never without the brine of his smile.

Garrett Matthias, 5, coming back as a gorilla

A private burial of Garrett's ashes will be held at a later time once his parents figure out how the hell to get his ashes made into a tree and locate a nature preserve, so his tree resides in a protected area.

Leonard Mason Smith, 86, died of 'none of your business'

Leonard Smith hated pointless bureaucracy, thoughtless inefficiency and bad ideas born of good intentions. He loved his wife, admired and respected his children and liked just about every dog he ever met. He will be greatly missed by those he loved and those who loved him. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you cancel your subscription to The New York Times.

‘New York Times’ Obit Writer Margalit Fox Retires

In the summer of 1994, I joined The Times as a copy editor on the Sunday Book Review. It was a marvelous section, awash in smart, lively colleagues and enticing, tottering stacks of books. But I pined for a writing job, and as my years on the copy desk wore on, I feared my own epitaph would say little more than “She changed 50,000 commas into semicolons.” (H/T Peter Elikann)

Mary Farrell left one crossword puzzle unsolved

A ruthless Scrabble opponent, and a dogged master of crosswords, we send her home with one last puzzle: 1. Where Mary has gone. 2. It comes in iron or a legal folder. 3. Hank's credo " ______ give an inch". 4. Bumble ___. 5. English beverage, with a pronoun. 6. Opposite of 'different'. (H/T Peter Elikann)

Kathleen Dehmlow, 80; let’s cut to the chase

In 1962 she became pregnant by her husband's brother Lyle Dehmlow and moved to California. (H/T Peter Elikann)

Heather Lynn Davis, 47, ‘did not complain. Much.’

She was born on July 28, 1973 and adopted shortly thereafter by Walter and Rose Neal. Turns out you really can choose your family. Upon realizing that she’d proven that piece of conventional wisdom wrong, she decided to make proving the world wrong her life’s goal. (H/T to Carol Snyder Foltz)

Mary Therese O’Connell, ‘found joy in the little things, her husband’s endowments not included’

Mary Therese O’Connell (aka “Puddy,” “Mommo,” or “that weird woman who is so nice to me”), shuffled off her motor oil on Feb. 10, 2018, passing away suddenly and peacefully where she excelled — in bed. (H/T Carol Snyder Foltz)

Shannon Leonard Churchill dead of colon cancer

My advice to you all is to make those bucket lists and to start filling them in. Life is short and it only runs out; I should know, I was only 44.

Robert Drew died knowing ‘Dez did, in fact, catch the ball’

Robert Clyde Drew, beloved husband, father, and Papa, drew his last breath January 25, 2018, mainly, we suspect, to prevent himself from having to watch the Patriots and Eagles in the Superbowl. A loyal Cowboys fan, he died peacefully with his daughter by his side, knowing full well that Dez, did, in fact, catch the ball.

Terry Ward, 71, ‘had zero working knowledge of the Kardashians’

He is preceded in death by his parents Paul and Bernice Ward, daughter Laura Pistello, grandson Vincent Pistello, brother Kenneth Ward, a 1972 Rambler and a hip.