Dying wish: Oregon man was able to die “peacefully” after a friend said Trump had been impeached

Michael Garland Elliot passed away on April 6 “surrounded by people who loved him dearly”

Published April 18, 2017 12:50AM (EDT)

President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with women small business owners in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, in Washington, Monday, March 27, 2017. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (AP)
President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with women small business owners in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, in Washington, Monday, March 27, 2017. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (AP)

This man’s dying wish was for President Donald Trump to be impeached — and it came true, if only in his mind.

Michael Garland Elliot died “peacefully” on April 6 after a friend falsely told him Trump had been impeached, the Hill reported.

Teresa Elliot, the man’s “ex-wife and best friend,” wanted to give him comfort in his final moments. “Upon hearing that, he took his final, gentle breath [and] his early work concluded,” the obituary in the Oregonian reads.

I’m sure our narcissistic president would have something to say about this. A nasty tweet, perhaps? But Elliot will fortunately never get to hear — or read — it.

A native of Charlottesville, Virginia, Elliot died “surrounded by people who loved him dearly.” Read the full obituary:

“Michael Garland Elliott passed away peacefully, April 6, 2017, surrounded by people who loved him dearly and cared for him selflessly during the last months of his life. He was born in Charlottesville, Va., in either 1940 or 1941 (he honestly didn't know!), and attended Lane High School, where he shined on the basketball court. After college at University of Virginia, he moved to Long Beach, Calif., where, among other things, he joined a semi-pro basketball team that toured the country playing exhibition games, dressed as women. At such times Mike was called Skaggy Maggie and continued round-ball domination, albeit with a different uniform.

Mike was a Porsche enthusiast, owning a dozen of them over the years, but nothing touched his heart like "the ancient game," golf. He was a founding member of The Reserve and spent countless weekends doing what he loved most with like-minded friends. He was very passionate about the game. One time (that we know of) he was angered by an errant shot and threw his club into a tree. Eventually every club in his bag was in that tree. Mike's health had declined over the past decade, and when he was no longer able to golf he accepted it with grace and humor, and threw things at the TV instead. Mike was also the sharpest dresser in town, single-handedly keeping Nike's apparel wing in the black.

Though Mike had no family remaining, he stayed close to the people he'd worked with in the plastics industry, especially Danny Velansky and Sean O'Brian, who was by his side at the end. Also present were Larry Smith, Judy Wiley, lovely neighbors Russ, Sandy and Garrett, and his devoted caregivers Alisha Alex, Sara Young and Leslie Kampmann, angels in human form. No patient ever, ever had more loving care.

Mike ran out of family long ago and is survived by his ex-wife and best friend, Teresa Elliott. Though their marriage ran aground, their friendship only grew stronger and hers was the last voice Mike heard. And the last thing she said to him was ‘Donald Trump has been impeached.’ Upon hearing that he took his final, gentle breath, his earthly work concluded. Mike will be forever missed but never forgotten.”


By Tatiana Baez

Tatiana Baez is mostly Salon's social media coordinator, but she also writes here and elsewhere. She lives in Brooklyn and tweets.

MORE FROM Tatiana Baez


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Donald Trump Impeachment Oregon