Brian,

If I am understanding you correctly, I think you may be making the process more difficult than necessary.

Everyone has their own preferences, but, for me, an obituary is not an "event," but a document (or image, if you have the actual newspaper clipping) recording the event.

So, I simply upload the image or a *.txt file with the information. You can then place it in the timeline as "add media" on the death event.

Does that help?

If I'm not following your issue, let me know, and I'll try to help further. You can contact me offline, if you like.