Neil trained as a Technical Teacher and for the last twenty years has been
at Tobermory High School as a Principal Teacher of Pupil Support.
Neil and Carolyn have two sons Andrew and David.
Bill and Joyce were justifiably proud of their grandsons. Andrew became the
youngest every coxswain for the RNLI and then in 2015 David followed in his
brother’s footsteps and became the Tobermory coxswain when his brother
was promoted to the post of Fleet Staff Coxswain.
Andrew provided Joyce and Bill with a much loved great-grand daughter, Orlaith,
who was born in Paisley in 2005.
Bill died on the 27 January 2013 after a very short illness with Joyce and
Morag at his bedside.
Following a series of falls and unrelated illnesses, Joyce recognized that
living in an upper cottage flat was no longer a practicable proposition and,
after experiencing a brief period of respite care in David Walker Gardens
took up permanent residence there in April 2015 where she thrived in a safe,
comfortable and caring environment.
The move did not end, but rather enhanced, Joyce’s lifelong relationship with
St Oswald’s where she had fulfilled many roles over her eight decades of
membership.
Indeed, her move to David Walker
Gardens allowed friends from
church and the local community to
visit on a regular basis and for
Joyce, chauffeured by Morag, to
continue to be a regular attender
at the church which had featured
so prominently in her life and to
which she had contributed so
much.
On Wednesday 25 May 2016,
Joyce had an active day, enjoying
the luxury of being pampered and
looking her best with the visiting chiropodist coming in to treat her.
She had attended social gatherings during the day, but died suddenly
later that evening.
Joyce was not scared of dying.
Her faith has always been very strong and she would be ready when the time
came.
That time came at 22:25 on the 25 May 2016
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