There was standing room only at Perth Crematorium as family and friends said their final farewells to well-known local man Stephen McGregor.
The 46-year-old died at his parents’ home in Luncarty on March 28 after battling cancer with great courage, dignity and humour.
In a moving tribute at the funeral service, civil celebrant Jayne Johnson said Steve had left behind “a legacy of love and memories” that could never be taken away.
She told the congregation: “There are sometimes no words to describe the shock of losing someone so young – and Stephen’s death is one of these times.
“And although his death has cast a shadow over his family and all his friends who loved him, today, at Stephen’s own request, we will celebrate him for the hard-working son, brother, uncle, nephew and friend that he was.
“And we shall do so with a tribute that celebrates the 46 years he has spent on this earth and the legacy he has left
behind.”
Steve was born on February 3, 1970, the eldest child of Maureen and George McGregor.
Two years later, he became big brother to Lea and they had a happy childhood in North Muirton, enjoying caravan holidays to Oban, Nairn and other resorts.
He developed a passion for cars from the day he could speak and as a child was happiest when playing with his toy cars and trucks.
Educated at North Muirton Primary and Perth Grammar School, he left at 16 to pursue his love of four wheels by starting work as a trainee mechanic with Frews of Perth.
He passed his driving test when he was 17 and had a fantastic memory for every single car that his parents had owned, naming each model and registration number in the correct order. He had a happy upbringing – he was very protective of his younger sister - and in his teenage years he played in midfield for a local football team and also enjoyed going to Muirton Park and then McDiarmid Park with his dad.
They both shared happy memories of St Johnstone’s famous Scottish Cup victory over Dundee United at Celtic Park in 2014.
Steve was also a regular in the Half a Tanner pub in Perth where he had his own stool, and he enjoyed many nights out, dancing at Electric Whispers or the Yorkie.
He went to work for Renault in Amsterdam in 1999, staying in a flat in Haarlem and becoming involved with the “wee Scottish community” that lived in that area.
He remained there until 2004 before working in Belgium for a year and then moving back to Scotland in 2005.
On his return to Perth, he worked for Cameron Volkswagen from 2005 before finally moving to Turner Vehicle Hire, checking rental vehicles there.
Last year he was offered an office role with that firm, looking after the rentals and enjoyed, for the first time, going to work in a shirt and tie.
He also found a new flat in Scone and “life was great for Stephen – everything seemed to be falling into place,” recalled Jayne. “But in August he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. It was a terrible blow and a shock to him.”
After being told last September that his illness was terminal, he returned once more to live with his parents who had moved to Luncarty in 1987.
“During that time, Maureen, George and Lea got to know Stephen as a man,” explained Jayne. And they found that he had strong values and didn’t like injustice.
“He hated the cloud of terrorism that is blanketing the world today – and had strong views, feelings and principles that they all admired.”
Despite his failing health, Steve was determined to meet up with his pals again in The Tanner and many enjoyed a refreshment with him last December.
Apart from two short stays in Cornhill and time in Ward 32 at Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital, Steve spent his last months at home with his loving family and it was there he died on March 28, with his mother at his bedside.
A retiring collection was taken at the crematorium for the Cornhill Macmillan Support Group and afterwards friends enjoyed happy memories of Steve at McDiarmid Park and later at The Tanner.
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