Don Randall has been remembered by his Liberal colleagues with tears and tales of admiration for his brutally honest and determined style.
The MP died suddenly from a suspected heart attack in Boddington on Tuesday, aged 62.
The federal member for Canning for five consecutive terms was found unresponsive in his car after spending the day - in characteristic fashion - meeting voters in his electorate.
Senator David Johnston couldn't hold back tears while speaking with ABC radio on Wednesday, describing Mr Randall as a very good friend.
"He was a very hard-working member of parliament who took his responsibilities extremely seriously," he said.
"Many people will wake up this morning in his electorate thinking `the comfort and security I had with Don Randall as my member is gone'."
WA Local Government Minister Tony Simpson, who holds the state seat of Darling Range, which takes in some of the areas in Canning, said Mr Randall was like "a dog with a bone" in fighting for his community.
A larger than life character, he was the king of doorknocking, Mr Simpson said.
To Senator Johnson, Mr Randall was a model Liberal and the party had taken a huge blow in losing him.
He would not tolerate non-performance, Senator Johnston said.
And those with whom he was dissatisfied were told about it in no uncertain terms.
Mr Randall's sparring partner Alannah MacTiernan, who gave him a good run for his money at the 2010 federal election, recalled their many stoushes.
"Don and I were of course noted political foes for some decades," Ms MacTiernan, now Labor's federal member for Perth, told reporters.
"But it's true to say that over the last 18 months, while we had a fair bit of parliamentary biffo, at a personal level, all of the animosity was put to one side."
They even built up "a certain camaraderie that certainly can transcend party lines" while fighting for the common cause of WA "against our fellows in the east".
Mr Randall's staff issued a tribute to their boss, saying he was a fair dinkum MP who put his electorate first - even if it meant ruffling a few feathers.
"He was our boss, our mentor, our friend and someone we all admired greatly," they said.
"Don will be sorely missed but never forgotten."
They said his wife of 31 years Julie, and children Tess and Elliott were "the centre of his universe".
He also leaves behind his beloved bulldog, Bruno.
"A piece of us is gone and we will never be the same again," the family said in a statement.
"Dad was born and bred in the country and ultimately left us in the country.
"A true blue maverick that never stopped fighting for what he believed in.
"What you saw was what you got and we loved that about him."
WA Premier Colin Barnett said he was saddened and shocked by Mr Randall's sudden death.
