Garbled tale passed on (4)

I believe the answer is:

late

'passed on' is the definition.
(both can mean dead)

'garbled tale' is the wordplay.
'garbled' indicates an anagram.
'tale' with letters rearranged gives 'LATE'.

(Other definitions for late that I've seen before include "Behindhand" , "Previous" , "Still to come - already gone!" , "Overdue; dead" , "No longer alive; tardy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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