Heartfelt tributes have been paid to a "funny" and "caring" granddad who was found to have died days after going missing.
Ray Griffiths was much-loved member of his local community in Hebburn. The 64-year-old devoted his time to cleaning up the area and prepared meals which he handed out to the homeless and the elderly.
On Saturday, May 21 police released an urgent appeal to trace Ray after his loved ones were unable to get in touch with him. His body was sadly found two days later near Monkton Stadium by the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue team.
He is believed to have taken his own life following a battle with mental health difficulties. However the circumstances surrounding his death have not yet been heard by a coroner.
Ray, who was trained to work as an industrial painter and blaster, was husband to Claire, dad to Gavin, 43, Jamie, 38, Hayleigh, 32, and step-dad to 19-year-old Molly. He was also a proud granddad to Connor, 25, Ellie and Jack, both 10.
His heartbroken son Jamie, who lives in Hebburn, said: "My dad was a gentleman who would do anything for anyone. He was funny and caring. He maybe liked to party a little too much!
"He was a very popular man. You couldn't go anywhere with him without him stopping to talk to someone every five minutes. It was that way since I was a kid. He was hilarious and larger than life."
Jamie, who works as a rope access technician, said his dad dedicated his spare time to helping others within the local area.
He said: "He did a lot for the local community, he cleaned up the local dene and Hebburn Cemetery with local volunteers. He also fed the homeless alongside Hebburn Helps in the winter.
"My dad was my friend and nothing can fill the gap that's left."
Angie Comerford, who is a co-founder of Hebburn Helps Community Food Bank, said she met Ray when he offered to help her feed the homeless in Newcastle around four years ago.
The 45-year-old, who also lives in the town, said: "He always had a smile on his face. He was a genuinely, lovely human being. He would make time for absolutely everybody.
"He knew lots and lots of people and a lot of people are upset by his passing. There's going to be so many people that will miss him walking past in the morning and having a little chat."
The mum-of-two said that Ray made sandwiches which they gave out to people who were living on the streets in Newcastle. He also prepared Valentine's Day meals for the elderly.
She said: "We did that a good few times, we pulled our little shopping trolley around the city centre with hot drinks and sandwiches. That was something he really enjoyed doing. He had a kind heart.
"I think it's just the type of person that he was. He wanted to get stuck in. It shows his character to even want to do that. He was a genuinely nice bloke."
Ray was reported missing on Friday, May 20 when his family were unable to make contact with him. The last confirmed sighting of him was on Monday, May 16. Angie said: "For a guy who would quite often go and sit in a friend's house having a couple of drinks, for not one person to have seen him, we thought there's something wrong."
An extensive search was launched by Northumbria Police and a number of enquiries were carried out to locate him. Sadly, his body was found on Sunday, May 22. Officers do not believe there to be any third party involvement in his death.
Following Ray's death, Angie set up a Go Fund Me page to raise funds for his funeral and more than £3,000 has already been donated. She said: "I think it is probably because he knew so many people and so many people loved him and wanted to help."
Ray's funeral will be held at 10.15am on Monday, June 13 at Hebburn Cemetery. His wake will take place at Jordan's Bar on the Lukes Lane Estate. Everybody is welcome to attend.
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