Joker's 'heaven-sent' Christmas greetings

An Oregon man known for his sense of humour gave his friends and family a start when they received Christmas cards from him – two months after he died.

Chet Fitch died in October at 88. Weeks later Christmas cards, 34 of them, began arriving – written in his hand with a return address of “Heaven”.

The greeting read: “I asked Big Guy if I could sneak back and send some cards. At first he said no; but at my insistence he finally said, ’Oh well, what the heaven, go ahead but don’t (tarry) there’. Wish I could tell you about things here but words cannot explain.

“Better get back as Big Guy said he stretched a point to let me in the first time, so I had better not press my luck. I’ll probably be seeing you (some sooner than you think). Wishing you a very Merry Christmas. Chet Fitch”

Debbie Hansen Bernard, a friend for nearly 25 years, said, “All I could think was, ’You little stinker’.”

“It was amazing. Just so Chet, always wanting to get the last laugh.”

The mailing was a joke Mr Fitch worked on for two decades with his barber, Patty Dean, 57.

She told the 'Ashland Daily Tidings' newspaper this week that he kept updating the mailing list and giving her extra money when postal rates went up.

This autumn, she said, Mr Fitch looked up to her from the chair and told her: “You must be getting tired of waiting to mail those cards. I think you’ll probably be able to mail them this year.”

He died a week later.