TRIBUTES have been paid to a husband and wife who died within eight days of each other at separate nursing homes.

Margaret Marshall (best known as Peggy), 89, and Gordon, 87, were proud Rhyl residents. Peggy died on October 31 and Gordon, November 11.

A joint funeral was held for the couple at the Denbighshire Memorial Park and Crematorium, St Asaph.

Peggy slipped from dementia to alzheimer's over six years. Gordon had a combination of vascular dementia and alzheimer's.

The couple, who would have celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary on Wednesday, November 24, are survived by daughter Sue Owen and Rob Marshall.

They also had granddaughter Emma Parry, the daughter of Sue and Gareth.

Son Rob said: "We find much comfort in the fact they are united. Photographs of their wedding day are brimming with joy, happiness and smiles. Dad passed away a mere eight days after mum. It is as if he had been waiting to be reunited."

Peggy was born and raised in Millbank Road in a house named ‘Derry.’

Gordon was raised in small mining town Sutton in Ashfield, on the outskirts of Nottingham.

"He never forgot his roots," Rob said.

"On leaving school, he followed his dad down the mines. He moved to driving lorries for the coal board.

"Every summer dad and his friends would cycle overnight to Skegness for their holidays. They were simple times."

Gordon served his National Service at Kinmel Camp.

The couple met at Regent’s Ballroom on Rhyl High Street. Romance blossomed and Peggy and Gordon were married in Bath Street in 1956.

They briefly moved to Nottingham, this is where Sue was born, before returning to Rhyl.

Rob arrived, during a storm, in 1968.

Gordon performed a variety of jobs, finally settling for a painter and decorator, while Peggy was described as "the family nurse."

Rob added: "Mum's devotion to the Methodist faith stretched to her being one of the Sunday School teachers, an active role in the Junior Missionary Association and in charge of The Cradle Roll. She undertook her duties with much love and care and then there was the baking.

"There was always a coffee morning to reach for the oven. If Bake-Off had existed, Mary, Joyce and Mum would have had their own television show.

"Mum can be summed up by the three 'F’s': Family, Friends and Faith. A family friend recently described Mum as 'a gracious and gentle spirit and having a good sense of humour.' This is how we remember her."

Rob commented that his parents suffered with ill-health in their later years.

The family paid thanks to staff at Plas Eleri, in Denbigh, and Preswylfa Care Home, Rhyl, for the love, kindness and care shown to their parents.

"Mum’s last word to Sue and me was 'sing'," Rob said.

"We were trying to encourage her to eat and drink and asked her what she had to do? Fully expecting her to answer 'eat and drink.' She smiled cheekily and said 'sing.'

"We knew what she meant.

"The only words I can find are 'we love you and thank you.'"