Ann Taylor (8 Mar 1944 - 22 Jul 2018)

Ann Taylor (née Riley) was born at Field Drive, Shirebrook, the daughter of Thomas Riley, First World War veteran, and his wife, Annie.

She had two sisters, Marjorie and Kathleen who were 18 and 17 years older than her respectively.

She attended Model Village Primary School and Carter Lane Girls' School, leaving at 15 to work in Hall's Furnishers on Shirebrook Market Place, where she worked for 24 years.

Her father died during the Asian Flu epidemic in 1961.

Ann had always known her future husband, Michael Taylor, known as Mick, as he lived only round the corner from her. One day in the early 1970s, they were stood next to each other at the bus stop when he asked her for a drink. The rest was history and they married in February 1979 at Chesterfield Register office.

Mick worked as a senior overman at Warsop Colliery and later as a delivery driver for Johnston Newspaper Group.

Their only son, James, was born in November 1984.

Their family holidays were often spent in Blackpool although they also visited Jersey, Devon and York.

Ann also cared for her mother, Annie, at home until she died in October 1989 aged 87.

Her interests included baking, sewing, knitting and puzzles. She remained close to her sisters and the three would speak on the phone each day.

Mick died in December 2016 after a short illness. Ann's last years were plagued by ill health. Having suffered from COPD for most of her adult life, she also developed vascular dementia and suffered several strokes. She was cared for firstly at home by her son, James, and later spent long periods in Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Clay Cross Community Hospital.

She moved to Mansfield Manor Care Home shortly before her death, where she received a high standard of care at th end of her life.