Maisie King (29 Mar 1923 - 1 Oct 2018)

In loving memory of Maisie King who sadly passed away on 1st October 2018.

Family flowers only. Donations, if desired, for St Mary's Church organ restoration may be left with the collection in Church. St Mary's Church is not registered with 'JustGiving' so on-line donations cannot be made. Cheques (payable to “St Mary’s DCC” and marked “organ restoration” on reverse) can be sent to St Mary's Parish Office, The Samworth Centre, 8 Burton Street, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 1AE.

Maisie was born on Maundy Thursday 1923, and her sister Jean eight years later. When Maisie was 16 years old, and after passing all her exams, she had to leave the grammar school to help her Dad run the family plumbing business. His health had been failing for many years after he had been gassed in the trenches at Ypres during the first World War. Sadly, Maisie was only 20 and Jean just 12 years old when he died aged 52. Maisie somehow managed to rise to the challenge of running the business herself and was able to keep the family afloat.

Later in her life, a couple of months after the joyful celebrations for her 40th wedding anniversary, Maisie's beloved husband, Gilbert died suddenly from a heart attack, aged 63. Everyone was shocked and devastated but again, Maisie refused to give in to her grief, and coped with her loss with great fortitude and dignity.

Some years later, Maisie's dearly-loved only son Robin died unexpectedly whilst working in India, aged 47 and then, last year, her dear younger grandson Keith died suddenly aged just 37 years.

After each untimely bereavement, Maisie's deeply-held Christian faith gave her the strength to come to terms with these personal tragedies. It also sustained her through major operations and hospitalisations over the years, and has
enabled her to bravely bear her distressing terminal illness. On the positive side, Maisie enjoyed a long, happy, and fulfilling life surrounded by the love and support of her family, her friends and her Church "family".

Maisie's father was a bell-ringer at St Mary's and the church was a constant and major part of her life from an early age. In her late teens and twenties she was a Sunday school teacher and an active member of St Mary's Youth
Fellowship group where she met Gilbert King. They married in St Mary's in 1950.

Maisie loved her garden which she had created from scratch. She was an accomplished flower-arranger and gave talks and demonstrations to various local organisations. She was president of St Mary's Flower Guild for a number of years and organised four major flower festivals that brought many visitors to St Mary's. For 20 years she organised a weekly coffee morning every Tuesday in the church hall raising a grand total of £53,000 for the Church funds. A tremendous achievement. Maisie and Gilbert also led regular bible discussion "house groups" in their home. She was also instrumental in assisting Gilbert in the preparation of his well-received articles on local history, published weekly in the Melton Times, and the various talks he gave on their many travels to historical and biblical sites.

Maisie worked hard all her life. After the family plumbing business was sold in 1960 Maisie was "head-hunted" by her next-door neighbour. He was Treasurer of Melton Borough Council, and he was aware of her business experience and flair with figures. She joined the Treasurers' department and, in due course, was eventually promoted to the post of Senior Rating Clerk, which she held until her retirement.

Maisie somehow found time to pursue her recreational interests and enrolled for various adult education courses in Literature Appreciation. She was a very sociable lady and was a member of the Mothers Union and an active, and lifelong, member of Burton Lazars WI serving as Secretary and President at different times.

Maisie was part of a very close family and she loved her family life. She enjoyed 40 years of happy marriage to a devoted husband. She was a wonderful mother to Wendy and Robin who enjoyed many happy childhood outings and seaside holidays in the UK. Then, when they were teenagers, epic camping expeditions touring the continent. These were all organised by Maisie with Gilbert gamely providing the manpower in the form of driving the car and erecting the tent at every camp site. She was a hands-on Nan to her grandsons James and Keith, who were occasionally treated to seaside mini-breaks in the school holidays. In recent years she was delighted to become a besotted great-grandmother to William and Peter. She always had a wonderful sense of humour, a lovely smile and an ability to accept (and dispense) good-natured teasing with a twinkle in her eye.

Over the years she shared many happy family holidays with Wendy and Richard and visits to their home in Oxfordshire to celebrate Christmas, Easter and birthdays. She also enjoyed get-togethers with her sister's side of the family in Shropshire, and her 95th birthday in March this year was celebrated with her family gathered in Melton.

To finish with a happy occasion, you will recall that Maisie was born on Maundy Thursday. Last year, on Maundy Thursday 2017, Maisie was one of the delighted pensioners who were presented with Maundy money by HM the Queen in Leicester Cathedral. Wendy was able to accompany her, and it was the most exciting and memorable day. Maisie had been nominated by St Mary's Church, a great honour, and it was a fitting tribute to a caring, generous, and truly remarkable Christian lady.

She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.