US man dies 'peacefully' after hearing Donald Trump was impeached

Donald Trump listens during a strategic and policy discussion with executives at the White House, April 11, 2017. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A 75-year-old man died "peacefully" at his home in the US state of Oregon after his ex-wife led him to believe that President Donald Trump had been impeached.

Michael Garland Elliott died earlier this month after Teresa Elliott, his ex-wife and best friend, broke the false news to him, according to his obituary published in The Oregonian.

"Upon hearing that he took his final, gentle breath, his earthly work concluded," the obituary said.

Teresa Elliott told several US media outlets that her ex-husband was appalled by Trump's election and she wrongly told him he had been impeached so he could die happy.

Elliott, who was born in Virginia and later moved to California, was a Porsche enthusiast and was passionate about golf, the humourous obituary says.

On moving to California after college, he joined a semi-professional basketball team that toured the country dressed as women, it added.

"At such times Mike was called Skaggy Maggie and continued round-ball domination, albeit with a different uniform," the obit says.

It said that though his marriage to Elliott ended, the pair had remained friends after their divorce "and hers was the last voice Mike heard."

Dozens of tributes have been posted on The Oregonian's "guest book" to honour Elliott.

"This was the best dang obituary I've ever read," one person wrote.

"May its words be prophecy."

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