Mourners gathered in County Durham today to pay their respects to 'true family man' Aaron Morris who died following a collision in Esh Winning on July 1.
Over 100 people arrived at Durham Crematorium on Friday to remember the popular 31-year-old who died on his wife Samantha's 28th birthday. Today the congregation heard how Samantha had returned home after losing her husband to find the card and presents he had bought her.
Aaron had laid out the gifts before he left the house that morning ready for Samantha who was returning home from an overnight hospital stay. The words Aaron had written in the card were read out during his funeral today, in which he wrote how excited he was about their future together.
The couple had married on May 1, 2021 and had recently learned that they were expecting twins.
"You bring sunshine into my life... and our babies into the world", he wrote. "I can't wait for our future", Aaron added in his card to Samantha.
As well as being a dad to three children T-Jay, 14, Ebony, 10, and Aurora, aged four, Aaron was a much-loved son to parents Michelle and Collin. He ran his own groundworks business having worked a number of jobs, including joining the Army in his late teens.
He was also a keen sportsman from a young age, excelling in sports such as football and mixed martial arts, which he never lost a match in. As well as being talented at sports, Aaron earned himself a huge following on social media, with almost half-a-million followers on TikTok.
During his funeral a visual tribute was played on screens inside the crematorium featuring a number of Aaron's TikTok videos, including one of him on holiday in Portugal with Samantha. The visual tribute was accompanied by the songs 'Heaven' by Bryan Adams and 'See You Again' by Wiz Kalif feat. Charlie Puth.
A moment of reflection followed the visual tribute, allowing people an opportunity to reflect on their own memories of Aaron. The moment was accompanied by the song 'Because You Love Me' by Celine Dion.
The service concluded with Aaron's favourite song, 'Seventeen Going Under' by Sam Fender. As mourners left the crematorium there was a moment to view the floral tributes which had been left by loved ones.
One tribute read: "To our Aaron, you will be sadly missed by all of us - what a lovely lad. Full of life." Another said: "To Aaron, you were the best. Sadly gone from us."
Read next:
-
Ambulance service launch investigation into response time to reach fatal Esh Winning collision
-
'A true family man' - Wife pays tribute to husband, 31, who died in Esh Winning crash
-
Thorp Academy pay tribute to 'kind and caring' pupil, 13, who died in the River Tyne near Ovingham
-
Blyth funeral director who would work between lessons received his GCSE results in a hearse