What Happens to Obituarists in Vegas, Stays in Vegas

If you're an obit writer, the good news is that the Eighth International Obituary Writers' Conference will be held June 15-17 in Las Vegas. The bad news: it's being held in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

The conference is put on by The International Association of Obituarists, whose website is kind of a hoot. There's an archive of Great Obits, with titles like these:

Jimmy Rae
Pilot, Diver, Inventor - Performed Handstand Atop the Eiffel Tower

Louis Heckert
Ex-Mayor Dies From Run-In With Moose

Iris "Fluff" Bower
Nurse who did not Neglect to Apply her Lipstick Before
Tending the Wounded Troops on D-Day

They also sell for $15 an Obit Kit-"designed as a guide for gathering information to be used in the preparation of an obituary—either for you, a family member or friend." Here's a free tip: It's considered bad manners to fill in the date of death in advance.