A grandfather who never missed a day of work due to sickness has tragically died after contracting coronavirus.
Lorry driver Kenny Smith, 64, was laid to rest last Tuesday (June 2) and his employer arranged a special goodbye by adorning his truck with images of him.
Kenny, of Dreghorn, had no underlying health conditions but sadly lost his battle with the terrible illness after a fortnight in Crosshouse Hospital.
His boss, John Cunningham, said: “Kenny never had a day off sick in his 16 years of working for me. He was a great guy and everybody looked up to him.”
Kenny, married to Karen, rang John to say he “didn’t feel great” a couple of days before he was admitted to hospital on April 30.
The dad-of-three lost his fight for life on May 13 after battling COVID-19 on a ventilator in the intensive care unit. His loss left family and friends devastated.
On the day of his death – his driver colleagues at Circle Express flashed the lights on their lorries to pay tribute to their popular friend.
Scottish regional manager at Circle Express John said: “It was a massive shock. We all thought he would pull through. On the day he died we lined up the trucks and flashed the lights. Kenny was a truck driver of the old school. Nothing was a problem to him and the job was always done to perfection – a rare breed these days.
“He will be sadly missed in the Circle Glasgow family as he was a ray of sunshine every time you saw him. He was always there with a smile and ready to give the younger drivers advice and show them the ropes.”
John, of Ayr, said hardworking Kenny was always on the “move” transporting freight between Glasgow and London.
His work truck- a Mercedes Benz Actros – was covered in special photographs for his funeral. It bore the words: ‘Papa, the man, the myth, the legend.’ The truck led the funeral cortège into the Holmsford Bridge Crematorium near Dreghorn.
John said it was the least he could do for his friend.
He added: “I hope it brought some satisfaction to his wife and family. They were thankful the truck turned up. It was a focal point.
“Kenny would have loved it.”
Kenny left behind his wife Karen, daughters Gillian and Laura, son Craig and grandchildren.
If you would like to pay tribute to somone you have lost, then you can here.
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