A funeral service was held at The Parish Church, Driffield on Monday, 11th February for Mrs Ethel Macalister Stather who died peacefully on February 3 at The Whitehouse, Driffield (formerly of Manorfield Road). She was 104.
The service was conducted by the Rev Robert Amos and the organist was Mr Peter Maw.
Ethel was born in Port Glasgow, Scotland on 17th January, 1909. She had three brothers and two sisters. Her father was the manager of the then thriving ship yard. She had a full and happy childhood and attended school at Greenock Academy. On leaving school at the age of seventeen she came down to Driffield to help her uncle who owned the Keys Hotel. It was there that she met Austin, her future husband, and she soon got involved with the family, socialising, playing tennis and holidays.
Austin and Ethel were married in Port Glasgow in March, 1932, and then they settled into their home in Manorfield Road, where Ethel lived until December last year.
Austin had the motor engineers business Southall and Stather, and Ethel helped out in the shop two days a week.
They had two daughters Sheila and Pat, and during the war they also had two evacuees Audrey and Helen from Hull. Helen has kept in touch regularly and sent a bouquet of flowers on her birthday in January. Ethel helped out with the war effort, raising funds and knitting socks and hats for the soldiers. She had letters from Winston Churchill and the Duke of Gloucester thanking her for all the money she raised. She was involved with the WRVS, doing meals on wheels and the trolley shop at The Limes. She was interested at an early age with Guiding, helping where she could and being a tester for badges.
Austin died in 1974, and Ethel continued to enjoy her garden and loved being with the grandchildren and later great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. She had a full social life and belonged to the Townswomen’s Guild and played bridge with her friends.
Laterly, Ethel needed help in the house, and she had a team of very kind and helpful carers which enabled her to stay at Manorfield Road. Without them it would have been very difficult and thanks go to them for the special way they cared for her and also the dedicated district nurses, nothing was too much trouble for them Her last few weeks were spent at The White House where she was looked after very well. She spent her 104th birthday there.
Mum, granny, great gran, great great gran, auntie and friend – a very special lady.
Family Mourners: Sheila & Wally Simpkin (daughter & son in law), Pat Blades (daughter), Karen & Alan McGill (granddaughter & husband), David & Heather Blades (grandson & wife), Alan & Deb Simpkin (grandson & wife), Michael & Carol Simpkin (grandson & wife), Julie Butler (granddaughter), great grandchildren Gary, Mark, Steven, Ryan, Michael McGill, Danny & Leoni, Jordan, Sheridan, Blaise Simpkin, Michelle Poole rep Iain, Christian & Lynn, Alex, Emily, Lily Simpkin, Jack Butler, Emily & Grace Paterson, great great grandchildren Sophia, Roman, William, Freya, Callum, Ella (represented by their parents)
Others present: Gordon & Margaret Shiach (nephew & wife), Margaret Stather (niece), Joan Tice (niece),Val Griffin (niece), Jill Ellis (niece), Eileen Maw (niece), Ann & Trevor Redhead (niece & husband), Ronald & Christine Wilson (nephew & wife), Allan & Kiran & Natalyia Wilson, Margaret & Gerry Ash, Annabel Lock, Mr Barry Stabler, Jenny Sanderson, Joan & Tony Straker, Rita & Alan Marson, Lynn Hodgson (carer), Nicola Brough rep Karen Brough, Les Pinkney, Cath Sanders rep Karl, Tim & Rachel, Sylvia Jackson rep Doreen-Hopper Jackson, Mr & Mrs Rod Dukes & Mrs Marjorie Spencer, Wendy Hall, Phil Curson rep Jenny & William, Hazel Senior rep Mrs Olga Ewbank, Joan Naylor rep Trefoil Guild, Joan Heslington rep Peter, Gwynneth Southall, Hilary Walker, Maureen Moore rep Rev Hilary Boon, Dee Horner, Shirley Clark,June Wilson rep Trefoil Guild, Mrs Pam Beachell & Mrs Madge Limburn, Sue Barnett rep Audrey Ringrose & Trefoil Guild, Mavis Hunsley rep Ken & Family, Dallas Lacy rep Mr M Lacy & Mrs M Kent, Chris Megginson, Ann Bennett rep Beryl Ringrose, John & May Clark, Janet Proudlock rep the family, Gill Cooper, Paul & Jo Stabler rep Sara & Darren Nicholson, Dave & Sheila Lawson, Audrey Hudson rep the family, Diana Thompson,Richard Megginson rep Elizabeth, Tom & Marjorie Langdale, Susan Hamminga, Rita & George Riggs, Mrs Faith Barron rep Judy Douglas, Angela & Charles Wiles, Margaret Dodds rep Ivan, Robert & Susan Blades, Gillian Patrick rep Eric & Sue Blades, Susan Lane (ex carer), Mr & Mrs F Dean rep Mr Reg Ramsey, Edwin Hill, Mike Kennie rep Mrs Kennie, Mr & Mrs A Padgett, Sandra Hood rep Jayne, Ann Knaggs rep Friends of Guiding, Mr & Mrs D Chaplin rep L/ C Samuel Chaplin (great grandson), Andy Stabler rep Richard, Simon & Vicky, Ross & Liz Weekes, Barbara Wilson rep Jessie & Jim Morris, Judy Wilson,Keith & Mary Harrison rep Charlotte Towse, Carol & Barry Skelton, Mary Fothergill, Susan Skelton, Sheila Sanderson, Phil Jones, Graham Turner rep Tracy Worsley.Angus Maxwell.