Tributes to 'loving, good-humoured' Kirkby great great grandmother who has died at 103

A family have paid tribute to a ‘very loving, good-humoured’ Kirkby great great grandmother who has died at the age of 103.
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Gladys Shaw died on March 1 at the Five Gables Care Home at Kirkby, where she had been cared for after a deterioration in her health.

She was one of 14 children born to Julia and Alfred Morley at Annesley Woodhouse on August 16, 1917 and spent most of her life in Kirkby.

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The centenarian formerly lived with her daughter Pat Grainger, on Hartley Road, and in her younger years worked in knitwear at Nottingham and Seal & Turner in Sutton.

Gladys Shaw, who has died at the age of 103. Photo kindly supplied by her family.Gladys Shaw, who has died at the age of 103. Photo kindly supplied by her family.
Gladys Shaw, who has died at the age of 103. Photo kindly supplied by her family.

After a whirlwind romance of six weeks, she married her sweetheart William Shaw in 1939.

The couple went on to have a son and daughter, Barry and Pat. She had five grandsons, one granddaughter, eight great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.

Gladys was a member of the Hill Methodist Church in Kirkby and took part in Easter sponsored walks.

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She was a former member at St Wilfrid’s and worked in the charity shop. In her spare time she enjoyed knitting, crochet and travel.

Her great granddaughter Jess Shaw said: “We all loved her, she cared for us all, she lived for her family.

“She could be fiery and stubborn at times but always good humoured and very loving. We couldn’t have wished for anyone better. A stroke knocked her confidence when she was 94, but until very recently she had all her faculties and could manage at home.

“She told us great stories and funny poems, she was always keen to tell us she cycled to Nottingham every day, even in the winter!

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“My favourite, was when my great granddad who I never met, was trying to get her to date him. He’d to stand at the pantry window singing Goodnight Sweetheart! They were very happily married.

“One favourite story was how she was one of 14, she said her mum would let one of them fall asleep in bed, then stand them up and put the next one in!”

Gladys’s funeral will be held at Hill Methodist Chuch on March 17, but due to Covid 19 restrictions the service is for family only.

She has requested charitable donations in lieu of flowers for a charity to be decided.