You have left a legacy... there was no-one like you
Sister’s poignant poem
Loved ones of a teenager who passed away near his high school put stickers on his coffin yesterday as he was laid to rest.
Friends and schoolmates were among those who honoured Erskine lad Owen MacDonald by writing their memories on stickers, which were then placed on his coffin.
Owen’s body was discovered on a grassy area near Park Mains High School, Erskine, on Sunday, April 30.
Yesterday, fast cars including Porches, Pontiacs and Maseratis gathered in his home town in tribute.
The dream machines formed a gleaming procession in honour of young Owen, who was a gaming enthusiast and loved playing Grand Theft Auto and particularly loved the Bumblebee Chevy from the Transformers movies.
His family had asked owners of American muscle cars, sports cars and “Fast and Furious” machines to be part of his funeral cortege.
The massive cortege was formed at Barrhill Road in the town and snaked its way behind the hearse as it made its way to Woodside Crematorium in Broomlands Street, Paisley,
This follows a balloon release that was staged over the weekend in Erskine, where scores of classmates joined Owen’s heartbroken family to pay tribute to him.
Police confirmed afterwards that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
The local community has since rallied round his family, fundraising an incredible £11,000 in days to help pay for a fitting send-off.
Owen’s funeral procession into the crematorium grounds was headed by a piper who played the famous theme from Star Wars.
Hundreds of mourners - many of them youngsteres - looked on and cried as their friend’s coffin approached.
In keeping with Owen’s cheeky, but lovable, nature his printed order of service was in the form of a school jotter , inside which were doodles and pictures of the young man’s short but active life.
Included was a poem by his sister Beth, which read: “I hold onto our memories/The ones that are so dear/ To try to keep you close/Now that you are not here/You were called, it was your time/But it is true/You have left a legacy/There was no-one like you.”
Towards the end of the service, humanist celebrant Jennifer Buchan, who regaled the congregation with funny stories about Owen’s many scrapes, invited everyone to come forward and place a sticker with their written memories of Owen on his coffin as his heartbroken family looked on.
This was an invitation that the vast majority of the congregation accepted in remembrance of their young friend.