He was an idol to his son, the best dad in the world to his daughter – and a big man with a huge personality to his hundreds of colleagues and friends.
They gathered yesterday to say an emotional farewell to helicopter crash victim Gary McCrossan, knowing that his death has left a void in their lives that will never be filled.
And the huge turnout at his funeral service underlined the popularity of the 59-year-old, who was known as a joker who always managed to find a funny side to everyday life.
Mr McCrossan, who lived at Woodlands Place in Inverness with his fiancee Fiona, was one of four people who died when the Super Puma aircraft transporting oil workers from the Borgsten Dolphin platform plunged into the sea off the coast of Shetland a fortnight ago.
Tributes from the welder’s family and friends were read at yesterday’s celebration of his life at John Fraser and Son funeral home in the Highland capital’s Chapel Street.
His son Niki, 35, said he would always be proud to say Gary McCrossan was his dad. He said: “I forgive you for leaving as I made my own massive mistakes.
“There were many miles between us for a long time but distance can never deny pure love that’s deeper than the deepest ocean.
“You were my father, my idol, my friend, my guide and my master teacher.
“I will always feel your big warm hand on my cold wee one and you tickling my wrist with your pinkie.”
And he told his father that he loved him “past space and time”.
Mr McCrossan’s daughter Freya described him as “the best dad in the world”.
She said: “He was the kindest, most generous and most selfless person I have ever met. He always thought of others before himself and was always there if you needed him.
“He always supported my decisions with no judgment, no matter how outrageous they were, and was always there to catch me if things didn’t work out.
“My dad was an incredibly clever man, he was a fountain of knowledge and I am proud to say he taught me so much. He was known to many as a joker. He truly was hilarious. He never failed to make people laugh with his precisely told jokes and stories.”
The service was conducted by Alan Smurthwaite, a celebrant for the Humanist Society of Scotland.
All the seats were filled and there were people standing in the aisles and the entrance hall of the building.
Mr Smurthwaite said: “Your attendance today in such numbers – we estimate in excess of 300 people – is an indication of Gary’s popularity and a great support to the family.” Mr Smurthwaite added that Mr McCrossan was “a big man, a strong man who had a huge personality, always with a good story and a daft joke told in his own unique way”.
Mr Smurthwaite said the welder’s death in such tragic circumstances had come as a terrible shock to his partner, his children, his brothers Frank and Kenny, his sister Maureen and his grandson Cohen.
He said: “A deep void will forever be left in their hearts, and along the path of memories they will walk each day with him.”
Mr McCrossan’s family asked people attending yesterday’s service to make donations to the RNLI, which played a key role in the rescue mission launched after the crash on August 23.
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