Paisley Daily Express

Devastated family pays tribute after sudden death

- DAVID CAMPBELL

Heartfelt tributes have been paid to a ‘much-loved’ former Paisley councillor who passed away suddenly aged just 44.

Messages of condolence flooded in following the death of Rayleen Kelly, who was a well known face in the Glenburn area of the town.

Daughter of former Labour councillor Terry Kelly, Rayleen herself won a place on Renfrewshi­re Council when she secured a 2003 election win in the Seedhill ward.

Her grief- stricken sister Clare posted an online tribute announcing she had died.

She wrote: “It is with much sadness and a heavy heart that I must tell you

my beautiful sister Rayleen passed away yesterday.

“We are all devastated and in complete shock.

“She was just the most special person and we will miss her forever.

“Please keep Rayleen and our family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Dozens of messages of support were posted on her Facebook page yesterday as friends remembered her for her wit and social conscience.

The current leader of the Renfrewshi­re Council Labour group and close family f riend Eddie Devine said yesterday he was “devastated” at the news.

He told the Express: “I have known the Kelly family since we all moved to Glenburn in the early 1950s.

“I saw Rayleen, Clare, Brendan and Terrance grow up, I have known them since they were little kids.

“I went to school with Terry and played football with him.

“We were all the same colour - red.

“Rayleen was such a wellknown and well-liked person in the Glenburn area.

“She was always such a good laugh, she was bubbly and funny.

“Her and Clare went to PACE, so they were always quite theatrical.”

He added: “I really can’t believe it. It is devastatin­g.

“The family are distraught. My thoughts are very much with Terry, Isobel, Clare and Brendan.”

Paisley Labour MSP Neil Bibby also added his own words of condolence as he praised her ‘unquenchab­le spirit’.

He said: “I am so sorry and upset to hear the awful news that Rayleen passed away yesterday. My sincere condolence­s are with you Clare and the rest of the family. Rayleen achieved so much with her kindness, unquenchab­le spirit and determinat­ion. That and her encouragem­ent of others will be at the forefront of my memories of her.”

Tragically Rayleen’s brother Terence died from leukaemia in 1996.

A Police S cotland spokesman confirmed there are no suspicious circumstan­ces surroundin­g the death.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom