THE family of a 56-year-old man have said they were devastated" after he was found dead from a shotgun wound on St Valentine's Day. Michael Coxall, a farm hand, was found at his Picknage Road home in Barley. Kelly Jacklin, 23, one of his four daughters,

THE family of a 56-year-old man have said they were "devastated" after he was found dead from a shotgun wound on St Valentine's Day. Michael Coxall, a farm hand, was found at his Picknage Road home in Barley. Kelly Jacklin, 23, one of his four daughters, said he was a "great dad" and "a loving father and grandfather". "He was also a clever man and a fantastic artist," she said. Mr Coxall was single at the time of his death and leaves four daughters, seven grandchildren and an elder brother. He was also the father of two sons. His first son, Thomas, died in infancy and his second son, Craig, was killed in a road accident just half-a-mile from his Barley home three-and-a-half years ago. He was 15-years-old at the time. Talking to The Crow about her father's death, Mrs Jacklin said: "He never really got over Craig - losing one son then losing the other was awful for him." Mr Coxall lived in Barley and Royston all his life and attended The Meridian School. His ex-wife, Beverly Adams, was still in regular contact with him at the time of his death. She said: "We were still good pals. Even though we were divorced, we were still good friends. He was easy to get on with and he was hard working, although he could be stubborn, like most men," she said. She said he was a keen gardener and was passionate about sport. "Once he finished work, he would get straight into the garden - he adored his garden, absolutely loved it," she said. "He played cricket and football, too, and lived for his sport." - An inquest into the death of Mr Coxall's was opened on Thursday and adjourned.