On Monday, June 4, a much loved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, friend and neighbour, Mrs. Mary Ellen(Marie) Purdy passed away peacefully at Mugglinagrow, Garrison.

Marie was born on July 14 1920 at Penybank, Ammanford, South Wales, the eldest child of David and Eleanor Jones. She was born into a coal-mining family. Her father was a miner and later her two brothers became miners as well.

She attended Parchryn Primary School and then Ammanford Secondary School(Central).

After leaving school, Marie went to work for a butcher's family, cooking, cleaning and looking after their children, occasionally helping out in the shop.

Each time Marie went back to Wales to visit she always spent some time with the children of the family. Later she went to nurse in Hereford, as a psychiatric nurse, where she met Robert(Bobby) Purdy who was also a nurse. They got married in St. Edmund's Church,Tycroes, Ammanford on November 29 1944.

For some years they lived for part of the year in Wales and part of the year in Garrison until in 1959 they bought a farm at Bolustymore, Roscor and farmed there from 1960 until Bobby took ill and died on June 7 2005.

Marie and Bobby had three children; Catherine, David and Dawn. Marie was a devoted mother and grandmother and her family were very important to her. She was very proud of each one's achievements.

She had many things she enjoyed doing but most of all her favourite was her garden. She also enjoyed cooking, knitting, reading and travelling. Marie was a hardworking, generous, kind and caring person.

She was predeceased by her husband, Bobby and her two brothers, Allen and Donald in Wales. She is survived by her daughter, Catherine and husband, Wilfie; son David and wife, Barbara and daughter Dawn.

She also leaves her grandchildren Ian, Denise, Emma, Russell, Davina, Nicola and Kyle and her neice Linda and nephews Howard and wife, Betty and Andrew and wife, Beth.

The funeral service took place on Thursday, June 7 2012 in Garrison Parish Church conducted by the Rev. Anita Kerr and Marie was laid to rest in the family plot in the adjoining churchyard.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. Peter Carty, Funeral Undertaker, Garrison.