WINFIELD, Mo. – The most recent round of winter weather took the life of a Lincoln County man. Roy Alonso, 22, died while driving to work on snow covered Highway 79.
“Always kind of the life of the party really,” said Alonso’s close friend, Ryan Johnson.
"Just outgoing, a people person,” Austin Jordan, another friend, added.
"Just how he always had a smile on his face,” said Ben Simpson.
Alonso’s friends shared fond memories of the young man. They went through the Winfield schools together.
“I knew him right when he moved here a long time ago,” Jordan said.
Jordan lived right next door to Alonso. The two were always doing something outdoors.
“Helping him build his first truck, four wheelers, anything,” explained Jordan.
Alonso had recently started his own drywall business. During the week, he would go to work for himself and, on weekends, he would work for his dad, who has his own drywall company.
"He wanted to make the entire family very proud of him,” said Alonso’s sister, Yadira Alonso. “And he achieved.”
Last weekend, Alonso was killed in a crash on Highway 79.
“A lot of shock, not really in reality yet to let it sink in that he’s gone,” Johnson explained.
A wooden cross stands at the site of the accident. This is the first memorial built in Alonso’s honor. The second is a platform, which was mounted on to the back of a truck, and will support Alonso’s casket.
“That’s one thing we always talked about, if one of us were to go, we would want it to be in the bed of a truck and not a hearse,” said Johnson.
Alonso had a passion for trucks. He will be escorted to his final resting by a procession of trucks.
“I don't think Roy would have imagined all the love and support that he is receiving and that we are receiving,” his sister said.
Alonso’s funeral and burial will be on Wednesday.
