GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas — At age 45, Dickinson City councilmember H Scott Apley, an avid COVID-denier and anti-vaxxer, passed away after testing positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, days after posting anti-vaccination memes on his social media, and after having taken to Twitter in April of this year to criticize Dr. Leana Wen for touting vaccine efficacy.

Apley was shortly hospitalized following his positive diagnosis on August 2, but just days after his admission to the hospital, passed away from complications of the disease.

After learning of the councilman’s death, Dickinson Mayor Sean Skipworth offered his condolences to Apley’s family in a Facebook post.

Additionally, the Galveston County Republican Party posted the following statement regarding Apley's death on its Facebook page as well:

"On behalf of the Galveston County Republican Party, I wish to express our deep sense of loss following the passing of our friend and colleague - Scott Apley. This indeed is a tragedy; it is magnified by his youth, his young family especially his very young son. Our hearts mourn for him and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Melissa and their families. Scott was a hard worker; and deeply committed to the betterment of his community, including his activities with the Republican Party. He was an advocate for liberty, limited government and the highest ideals of American Exceptionalism. We will celebrate his life and be thankful for his contributions to Galveston County, Texas and our Nation. Rest in peace, my friend."

According to the Galveston County Republican Party, a prayer vigil is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. for Apley’s family at Paul Hopkins Park.

A GoFundMe page was set up to assist Apley's family pay with his medical bills and funeral cost.