Tributes paid to Fife funeral director: A diamond of a man who helped so many

Billy ran Fife Funeral Services which has been a family business for generations and was very well known in the town.

He died at home in Kirkcaldy on May 16 aged 46.

Billy was the youngest of five siblings, with two sisters, Debbie and Tracy and two brothers, Bobby and Elliot.

He attended Kirkcaldy West Primary and then Balwearie High.

Billy begin his working life as a tool machinist, before going on to become a bouncer with his friend, Chris.

But ultimately he joined his dad, Gordon, in the family business, ‘The Fifeshire Posting’, which went on to become Fife Funeral Services, based in Dysart Road.

He has worked in the business ever since, latterly taking it over following his father’s retirement a few years ago.

Billy first met his fiancee, Louise Nicholson, in 1989 and they were childhood sweethearts for many years before parting ways in 1993.

They had intermittent meetings over the years before reconnecting in 2016 and the couple soon got engaged.

They were big ice hockey fans, and were rinkside to watch Fife Flyers – Louise was a die-hard fan, but Billy’s heart was always with Dundee.

He played the sport too, starting out at Glenrothes before he and his friend, Richy Latto went to Dundee in 1989 where he stayed for three to four years, before returning to Fife.

He then became part of Perth Panthers in Aviemore and eventually joined Dundee Stars for number of years and from there, Billy stopped playing, with 2005/06 season being his last season.

He kept in touch with his ice hockey family from both Fife and Dundee, enjoying trips to Canada and various other nights out.

Billy has been described as a ‘go to person’ who helped and assisted so many people in the funeral industry.

He also gave help and advice to his family and many friends; always dealt with things calmly and was known for his kindness, honesty and reliability as well as being good fun to be with.

He was close to his family, particularly his mum and dad, Joyce and Gordon, and enjoyed looking in on his niece Kristen and James in Gloucester; spending Christmases with his sister Tracy and her family, Ian and niece Ferne; trips to Spain and Clacton on Sea to see his sister Debbie and Dave and his nieces and their families and holidays to France to visit Elliot and Francoise and his nephew Murphy who lived there.

Billy’s kind nature remained the same whether it was family, friends or his staff, who described him as a great boss to work for.

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Allan Crow, Editor, Fife Free Press