A grandfather whose body was recovered from a canal has been remembered by his family as “the clown of the party.”
Shaun Barton, 60, died on September 13 before his body was pulled from Ripon Canal, North Yorkshire.
Police were called to Boroughbridge Road in Ripon at 8.41am, where a member of the public had reported finding a body in the water.
His daughter Gemma Cox has paid tribute to him, describing a man full of laughter and kindness.
Ms Cox said: "He was really funny, always there for people, and the clown of the party.
"He was a very loving person, and well-known in Ripon and in Harrogate.
"He loved his squirrels, he had a family that would come and visit and he'd feed them every day in the garden.
"I was in my garden the other day and a squirrel came out of nowhere, that put a smile on my face knowing he's around."
Mr Barton with daughters Kim and Gemma (Image: Gemma Cox)
She said Mr Barton "adored his grandkids," and was especially proud of his family.
Ms Cox, who lives in Dorset, said her father had always supported her through difficult times.
She said: "Even before all of this, I was struggling with mental health, and I was struggling financially, and my dad would always call and check in on me.
"I can't come to terms with it, I can't face reality.
"Even my kids don't know yet, my eldest is autistic - I don't know how to tell them."
Mr Barton leaves behind two daughters, a son, a brother, and six grandchildren.
Ms Cox explained that she believed her father had a funeral plan, but later discovered it had been cancelled in 2019 due to missed payments.
She has set up a fundraiser to help cover the costs of the funeral, which will take place at 2.30pm on October 19, at Maple Park Crematorium.
A wake will follow at the South Lodge.
Ms Cox said: "I never like asking for help, but I have to ask for the help this time."
Read More:
She added that her father loved socialising and spending time with friends.
Before an accident that left him reliant on a mobility scooter, he had also run his own business.
Enquiries into Mr Barton’s death are ongoing.