It's not every day an obituary includes a confession to a crime.

But the legacy Gary Bean left behind doesn't describe just any man.

A witty obituary published in the News Sentinel on Wednesday morning describes a man who "wasn't about to let technicalities stop him from acting on his convictions."

So that's why he stole a dog from a North Knoxville home, named her Maggie, and gave her a better life. He would never apologize for it — not even in death.

The tribute written by former Knoxville Journal reporter and current KnoxTNToday writer, Betty Bean, captured the hearts of animal lovers and strangers on social media.

"I never met Gary Bean, but after reading his obituary, I wish I had," reads a comment on his knoxnews.com obituary.

The Gibbs High School graduate and former University of Tennessee forestry student died Aug. 8 at the age of 65.

You can read the full obituary below: