RIP

The Kansas City Chiefs organization is paying for Jovan Belcher's funeral arrangements ... and has offered financial assistance to Kasandra Perkins' family as well ... TMZ has learned.

Sources directly involved with the situation tell us ... the Chiefs have made it clear they don't want either family to be stuck with the massive bills stemming from the funerals or memorial services.

We're told members of Belcher's family -- which now has custody of the couple's orphaned newborn baby -- graciously accepted the offer ... and the team will cover all of the costs of Belcher's memorial in KC and funeral in NY.

It's unclear if Perkins' family has accepted the offer as well.

When called for comment, a rep for the Chiefs told us, "We are assisting both families with arrangements ... We just prefer not to get into specifics of what we are doing or have done."

Susan Luckey – who famously played the role of Mayor Shinn's daughter Zaneeta in the 1962 classic “The Music Man” – passed away at her L.A. home early Thursday morning at the age of 74 … this according to her daughter Shayna Reynolds.

Reynolds tells TMZ that her mother – real name Suzanne Douglas -- hadn't been suffering from any long-term illness ... explaining that her death was "just old age."

We're told Susan didn’t want a traditional funeral -- instead, her body was cremated and the remains placed in a "decorative box" where other family members have been laid to rest.

Besides her role in "The Music Man," Luckey starred alongside Shirley Jones in the 1956 film “Carousel” … and was one of the Native Americans in the original Broadway production of “Peter Pan.”

R.I.P.

Famed jazz pianist Dave Brubeck -- the man behind the famous song "Take Five" -- has died.

Brubeck's manager said the music icon passed away in Connecticut this morning due to heart failure, while on his way to a cardiology appointment. He was 91.

His birthday is tomorrow.

Brubeck was a living legend -- having written several jazz staples like "In Your Own Sweet Way," "Blue Rondo à la Turk," and "The Duke." The Dave Brubeck quartet recorded "Take Five" all the way back in 1959.

In 1954, Brubeck was the first modern jazz musician to be featured on the cover of Time magazine.

Brubeck is survived by his wife, four sons, a daughter, grandsons and a great granddaughter.

Jovan Belcher's mother frantically called 911 moments after the Kansas City Chiefs football player shot his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins multiple times Saturday morning ... pleading with the operator to send help ASAP while Jovan's newborn baby cried hysterically in the background.

During the call, Jovan's mother told the operator "Oh my God. Oh my God, Cassie ... The baby is crying ... get the ambulance here please!"

She continued "She is still breathing but barely. Please hurry. I don't know how many times he shot her. They were arguing."

The 911 operator asked if Kasandra was bleeding -- Belcher's mother replied, "Yes she is."

Kasandra was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

As for Belcher, he drove to the Kansas City Chiefs football facility at Arrowhead Stadium and shot himself in the head in front of team staff.

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot and killed his girlfriend early this morning, then drove to the team facility and committed suicide in front of his coach and general manager, this according to the Kansas City Police Department.

Police Capt. David Lindaman says that Belcher and his girlfriend -- who had just given birth to the couple's child three months earlier -- began arguing around 7:00 AM local time.

Lindaman says Belcher shot the woman multiple times and she was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Police say Belcher left the scene and drove to the stadium where he was confronted by team personnel, including GM Scott Pioli and head coach Romeo Crennel. According to police, they tried to keep Belcher from committing additional acts of violence.

Just as police arrived on the scene, they heard a gunshot and discovered Belcher had shot himself in the head. Cops say before firing the shot, Belcher thanked Pioli and Crennel for all they had done for him.

The coaches told police they never felt as if they were in danger.

Belcher had been with the Chiefs for four seasons after being undrafted out of the University of Maine.

The Chiefs host the Carolina Panthers tomorrow and the game will be going forward as planned. A team spokesman says Crennel plans to coach.

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher and girlfriend Kasandra Perkins were an extremely happy couple ... this according to Kasandra's family, who says news of the alleged murder/suicide this morning came as an "utter shock."

Members of Kasandra's family tell TMZ ... Jovan and Kasandra always seemed to be in love. In fact, we're told when Kasandra got pregnant, she and Jovan were "ecstatic." The family says ever since the baby was born in September, the two couldn't have seemed happier together.

The 22-year-old's family says they have NO IDEA why the relationship took a tragic turn this morning -- when Jovan allegedly shot and killed Kasandra before taking his own life -- and news of their deaths was both devastating and unexpected.

The body of Hector "Macho" Camacho was loaded onto an airplane in Puerto Rico today -- a plane bound for the United States, where a private funeral is scheduled to be held this week.

As we reported, Camacho's mother had requested a private funeral to be held in New York City, where he will also be buried.

An open casket public viewing was held on Tuesday in PR. A private mass was held earlier this week.

Camacho passed away on Saturday from injuries he sustained during a drive-by shooting last week.

Hector "Macho" Camacho's body is currently on display at a public viewing in Puerto Rico -- three days after the boxing legend's death.

The public viewing is being held at Centro de Recreacion in Santurce. A private mass was held yesterday for family and friends.

According to his rep, Hector's body will be flown to New York City for a private funeral and burial at his mother's request. It's unclear when the private funeral will be held.

As we reported, Camacho passed away on Saturday from injuries he sustained during a drive-by shooting last week.

Hector "Macho" Camacho has died from injuries he sustained in a drive-by shooting in Puerto Rico.

Dr. Ernesto Torres, director of the Centro Medico trauma center in Puerto Rico, said Camacho went into cardiac arrest early Saturday. He was then taken off life support and died shortly thereafter.

Camacho and a childhood friend were shot several times Tuesday night while sitting inside their car. Camacho was hospitalized following the attack, but went into cardiac arrest a short time later. He died Saturday. Camacho's friend died at the scene.

Officials in Puerto Rico have launched an investigation into the shooting -- but so far, no suspects have been identified ... and no arrests have been made.

During his professional career, Camacho was a helluva boxer -- with a record of 79-5-3.

Sporting his trademark front-curl, Camacho battled with legends like Felix Trinidad, Julio Cesar Chavez and Sugar Ray Leonard. In fact, Camacho famously knocked out Leonard in 1997.

Outside the ring, Camacho was no stranger to trouble ... having been arrested several times. In fact, he was sent to prison for burglarizing a computer store in 2005. During the arrest, cops say they found the drug ecstasy.

Camacho's wife had also filed two domestic abuse complaints against the boxer over the years. And last year, Macho was arrested for allegedly abusing his teenage son.

An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

Camacho was 50 yearsold.

Actor Larry Hagman -- best known as the conniving J.R. Ewing on "Dallas" -- has died at age 81.

Hagman died in a Dallas hospital at 4:20 pm Friday, due to complications from a recent battle with cancer ... according to local reports.

The actor's family released a statement shortly afterwards, saying "He was surrounded by loved ones when he passed. It was a peaceful passing, just as he had wished for."

Hagman also starred in "I Dream of Jeannie" but was most famous for playing the iconic villain J.R. in the 1980's drama "Dallas" -- and recently reprised the same role on the TNT version ... which launched earlier this year (below).

He is survived by his two children.

It's a Thanksgiving conspiracy -- one of the turkeys pardoned by President Barack Obama last year was euthanized this week ... just days before Turkey Day ... and so far, no one's saying why.

A rep for the Mt. Vernon Estate -- where the pardoned turkeys are SUPPOSED to live out the remainder of their days in pastured leisure -- said the turkey (named Peace) was euthanized Monday following an illness over the weekend.

But the rep didn't know what kind of illness it was, how it was subsequently killed, or what the plans were for the turkey's delicious remains.

The rep says the decision to exterminate the fowl was made by a local veterinarian.

Coincidentally, the Mt. Vernon Estate DOES serve turkey on Thanksgiving.

It was a sad day in Smurf Village earlier this month ... when the woman who voiced Smurfette moved on to that big mushroom patch in the sky ... and now one of her co-stars is honoring her Smurf life with a touching final tribute.

Besides Smurfette, Lucille Bliss did voice work for a ton of animated classics, including the Flintstones, 101 Dalmations and Cinderella. She passed away on Nov. 8 at the age of 96.

TMZ spoke to Michael Bell -- a.k.a. the voice of Grouchy Smurf, Lazy Smurf and Handy Smurf -- who tells us Lucille was so special to him, he penned the following note in her memory:

"Goodbye Lucille. You were the stuff Smurf dreams were made of. I know Lazy Smurf dreamed about you ... Handy Smurf made you lots of things you didn't need ... and Grouchy secretly had your pin-up calendar over his head."

"You had more energy and grit then all of us blue boys put together. You were the original Smurf 'It' girl ... and you will be sorely missed."

R.I.P Smurfette.

It's been 8 years since Ol' Dirty Bastard died at the age of 35 ... but one of his former Wu-Tang Clan members tells TMZ he refuses to mourn, because ODB "wouldn't want me to."

TMZ spoke with both Raekwon and Ghostface Killah -- who tell us they still think about Dirty all the time ... and have spent the anniversary of his death reflecting on his remarkable life.

"Today I just want to have a day of prayer to let my brother know I am thinking about him," Raekwon tells us ... adding, "This still hits me real hard."

"I will mourn over him today and think about how much he taught me."

But GhostFace says he's handling things differently ... "I never dwell on the day we lost him, I just celebrate the times I had with him."

"I pray and thank God on this day because he is my angel ... I spent the day just sitting quietly and praying. Dirt wouldnt want us mourning so I don't."

ODB passed away on Nov. 13, 2004 from an accidental drug overdose ... but Ghostface tells us, "I still hear his voice daily ... whether it's his music or memories of things he taught me."

Former "Real World" star Joey Kovar died from opiate intoxication, a rep for the Cook County Medical Examiner tells TMZ.

TMZ broke the story ... law enforcement sources originally believed a lethal mixture of cocaine, Viagra, and alcohol was to blame for Kovar's sudden death in August in Chicago -- but medical examiner tells us, the official cause of death is listed as "opiate intoxication."

29-year-old Kovar's death has been ruled an accident.

Natina Reed's funeral is being held today in her hometown -- and TMZ has learned that rapper Kurupt, the father of her son, is covering all the expenses.

Reed -- who passed away on October 26 after she was struck by a car -- is being laid to rest at the Abundant Life Church in Lithonia, GA.

According to our sources, Kurupt -- the father of Reed's 10-year-old son Tren -- is footing the bill for the service as well as for the gathering after.

We're told Tren will remain in Kurupt's custody -- like he has for the past four years -- and that Kurupt hopes Tren will maintain a close relationship with Reed's family.

Former Major League Baseball pitcher Pascual Perez was stabbed to death in a home invasion robbery in the Dominican Republic ... this according to multiple local reports.

Perez -- who pitched in the Majors for 11 years -- was reportedly stabbed in the neck during the incident. There is speculation Perez was killed for his MLB pension payment he received before the murder.

Perez played for a slew of MLB teams -- including the Pirates, Braves, Expos and Yankees. He made the All-Star squad back in 1983 -- the same year he had a 3.43 ERA.

Pascual got the nickname "Perimeter Perez" when he got lost on the I-285 while driving himself to a Braves game back in 1982 on a day he was scheduled to start.

So far, it's unclear if anyone has been arrested in connection to the murder.