She owned the store with him and it was TOD on each others death. The mortgage went straight to her. If she had gotten his house she could have sold it and made a little money but since it went into his estate she couldn't touch any of his property. His catering trucks and equipment, etc. Any profit from the house sale or equipment went to his debts. He had a bunch of older beer signs and they were auctioned with everything else. No life insurance of any kind. He didn't plan to die any time soon. He was way more concerned about losing his leg.

I could write a book about this mess. There's much more involving a few friends of his and the bank.