#RIP #OTD in 1990 singer (“Cry”, “The Little White Cloud That Cried”), songwriter, pianist, pioneering figure in the development of rock and roll, Johnnie Ray died from liver failure at Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, aged 63. Hopewell Cemetery near Hopewell, Oregon
#RIP #OTD in 1991 honky-tonk vocalist (“In the Jailhouse Now”, “There Stands the Glass”, “Wondering”), songwriter (“I Ain’t Never”, “I Don’t Care”) and guitarist, Webb Pierce died from pancreatic cancer in Nashville, aged 69. Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville
On this day in 1994, singer, actress, and television personality Dinah Shore died from ovarian cancer at her home in Beverly Hills, aged 77. Born Fannye Rose Shore on February 29, 1916 in . She was the top-charting female vocalist of the 1940s and achieved success a decade later, in television, mainly as hostess of a series of variety programs for Chevrolet.
After failing singing auditions for the bands of Benny Goodman, and both Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Shore struck out on her own to become the first singer of her era to achieve solo success. She had a string of 80 charted popular hits, spanning 1940–1957, and after appearing in a handful of feature films, she went on to a four-decade career in American television, starring in her own music and variety shows from 1951 through 1963 and hosting two talk shows in the 1970s.
Shore, who played golf, was a longtime supporter of women’s professional golf. In 1972, she helped found the Colgate Dinah Shore Golf Tournament, which in its current identity as the ANA Inspiration, is one of the five major golf tournaments on the LPGA Tour. The tournament is held each spring at Mission Hills Country Club, near Shore’s former home in Rancho Mirage, California. Shore was the first female member of the Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles.
Shore was married to actor George Montgomery from 1943 to 1962. After her divorce from Montgomery, she briefly married Maurice Smith. Romances of the later 1960s involved comedian Dick Martin, singer Eddie Fisher, and actor Rod Taylo. In the early 1970s, Shore had a long romance with actor Burt Reynolds, who was 20 years her junior.
The Final Footprint
She was cremated the day of her death. Some of her cremains were inurned in two memorial sites: the Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California, and Forest Lawn Cemetery (Cathedral City). Other cremains went to relatives.
In both Cathedral City and Rancho Mirage, California, streets are named after her. Her hometown of Winchester, Tennessee, honored her with Dinah Shore Boulevard. In 1996, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to her. Other notable final footprints at Hillside Memorial include; Jack Benny, Milton Berle, Cyd Charisse, Moe Howard, Al Jolson, Michael Landon, Leonard Nimoy, Lupita Tovar, and Shelley Winters. Other notable final footprints at Forest Lawn Cathedral City include; Rock Hudson, Jerry Vale, Nancy Wilson, and Jane Wyman.
On this day in 2006, comedic actor, Don Knotts, died at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California from pulmonary and respiratory complications related to lung cancer at the age of 81. Born Jesse Donald Knotts on 21 July 1924 in Morgantown, West Virginia. Perhaps best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960’s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, a role which earned him five Emmy Awards. He also played landlord Ralph Furley on the 1970’s television sitcom Three’s Company. The Andy Griffith Show was televised by CBS between 3 October 1960 and 1 April 1968. Andy Griffith portrayed a widowed sheriff in the fictional small town of Mayberry, North Carolina. In addition to the character Fife, the show featured his spinster aunt and housekeeper, Aunt Bee (Frances Bavier), and his young son, Opie (Ron Howard, billed as Ronny). The show was a major hit, never placing lower than seventh in the Nielsen ratings and ending its final season at number one and spawned a spin-off series, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964), a sequel series, Mayberry R.F.D. (1968), and a reunion telemovie, Return to Mayberry (1986). Reruns currently air across the United States, and the complete series is available on DVD. The opening theme song, “The Fishin’ Hole”, was composed by Earle Hagen. Rare is the person who has not whistled that tune. Knotts and Griffith formed a lifelong friendship. Knotts was married three times; Kathryn Metz 1(947–1964 divorce); Loralee Czuchna (1974–1983 divorce); and Frances Yarborough from (2002-2006 his death). He graduated from the University of West Virginia. 
The Final Footprint – Knotts is interred at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary ( a Dignity Memorial property). His grave is marked by a montage flat bronze on granite marker with the inscription; HE SAW THE POIGNANCY IN PEOPLE’S PRIDE AND PAIN AND TURNED IT INTO SOMETHING HILARIOUS AND ENDEARING. His statue stands in a memorial park on Don Knotts Boulevard in Morgantown. Other notable final footprints at Westwood include; Ray Bradbury, Sammy Cahn, Truman Capote, James Coburn, Rodney Dangerfield, Hugh Hefner, Janet Leigh, Farrah Fawcett, Brian Keith, Burt Lancaster, Peter Lawford, Peggy Lee, Jack Lemmon, Karl Malden, Dean Martin, Walter Mathau, Marilyn Monroe, Carroll O’Connor, Roy Orbison, George C. Scott, Dorothy Stratten, Billy Wilder, Natalie Wood and Frank Zappa.
On this day in 2012, actor, director and writer Harold Ramis died from complications from autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis at his home on Chicago’s North Shore, at age 69. Born Harold Allen Ramis on 21 November 1944 in Chicago. Perhaps his best-known film acting roles are as Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters (1984) and Russell Ziskey in Stripes (1981); he also co-wrote both films. As a writer-director, his films include the comedies Caddyshack (1980), National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), Groundhog Day (1993) and Analyze This (1999). Ramis was the original head writer of the television series SCTV, on which he also performed, and one of three screenwriters of the film National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978). His films have influenced subsequent generations of comedians and comedy writers. Ramis was married twice; Anne Plotkin (1967 – 1984 separated, later divorced) and Erica Mann (1989 – 2014 his death). 
The Final Footprint – A private funeral was held for Ramis with family, friends, and several collaborators in attendance including Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, and John Belushi’s widow, Judith Jacklin Belushi. Ramis is interred at Shalom Memorial Park in Arlington Heights.
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