I take it simply to be a sudden unexpected death. It can happen in youth as well as middle or old age. Had not my dad been with my first wife as he was walking to his vehicle for a ride I would have came home to such a scene. A massive heart attack at 23. Bobby Russell {The night that the lights went out in Georgia} & {Little Green Apples} actually wrote the song. It just seems to be a man recollecting his memories over death of his wife. Been there X2 so the song makes sense to me in that respect.
I take it that Honey was suffering from depression, since the singer would come home and find her crying for no reason at all. However, another poster thought Honey might have had cancer, which could also have resulted in crying when alone and an early death.
In any case, several years ago, I had just moved into a new house and I was busy cleaning it while waiting for my husband and son to fix up our old house on the other side of the country and sell it. I was playing XM radio while I scrubbed. That song Honey came on, and, between the content of the song and the distance from hubby and son, I nearly collapsed on the floor in an inconsolable heap. I’ve never felt that sad before when I haven’t just had someone close to me die.