Sam Perkis, with his children, Tilly and Finnley.
'A FAMILY man who adored his children’ is how the mother of Samuel Peter Perkis has described her son, who was found dead following an Island-wide search last week.
Sam was discovered in his car in the Playstreet Lane area of Ryde last Wednesday.
Family tributes to the 25-year-old dad-of-two, led by his mother, Debbi Lewis, were laid at the scene on Saturday.
Born on March 25, 1987, Sam grew up in Ryde and attended Dover Park Primary and Mayfield Middle schools and Ryde High. He also attended Forelands Middle School, Bembridge, for a spell. When he left school, aged 17, Sam began his apprenticeship as a carpet fitter with Islandwide Carpets, Newport, where he remained throughout his working life.
He enjoyed playing pool and darts and attending music festivals.
Mrs Lewis said: "Sam was a proper family man, with a huge circle of friends. He was very protective of his family and he adored his children.
"Everyone is devastated and in shock at his loss.
"It was so out of character, what happened. I saw him last Saturday week — the day before he disappeared — and he was in good spirits, absolutely normal. We had all the kids round at my home and we had the most wonderful time. We laughed all afternoon.
"I close my eyes and remember the last words I said to him — I love you 'Peeps’."
Sam is survived by his mother, father, Les Perkis, girlfriend, Tara Jerram, the couple’s two children, Tilly and Finnley Perkis, aged two and four, his two brothers, three sisters and step-father, Ade Lewis.
His funeral will be at the IW Crematorium, at 11.15am next Friday, November 9.