Geoffrey Herbert Evans

“Memories are something no one can steal”

A devoted husband, dad, grandad & great-grandad, Geoff very sadly passed away at Leighton Hospital on 13th November 2020 aged 87 years.

Geoff was born in Ludford Street Crewe on 25th July 1933, the only child of Connie and Percy Evans.

He grew up in the west end moving to Saunders street as a small child. 6 years of his childhood was spent during the 2nd World war from aged 6 to 11 years.

He started his working life at Rolls Royce Motors as a white collar worker in the payroll department in 1948 and remained there until his retirement aged 57 in 1990.

He completed national service from 1952 to 1954 and served in Malaya.

Geoff’s path in adult life was determined by a lads holiday to the Isle of Man in 1967, where he met a local Manx girl Margaret Lee at the Palace Ballroom.

Margaret was a state registered nurse and was living and working in Nottingham but was back to visit her family.

By the end of the week, Geoff was smitten and their romance continued leading to marriage on 8th March 1058.

The marriage was a happy one and they were blessed with 3 children over the next 10 years, a girl and two boys. Geoff devoted his time and energy into family life, always having time to spend time with them, taking them out for days, holidays to the Isle of Man , Bury St Edmunds, where Margaret’s sister lived and Wales. They did fishing trips and countryside walks in Cheshire.

Geoff and Margaret had many good friends and enjoyed spending time with them.

In 1990, Geoff and Margaret retired and life slowed down, though he still enjoyed his gardening for himself and others.

He had an allotment where he could enjoy growing produce and there was always an abundance of produce which he shared out with his family and friends.  It also gave him opportunity to escape from “the wife” when he felt he needed it.

Retirement also offered the time to take more holidays, and they continued to visit the Isle of Man to see Margaret’s mother and brother, and Bury St Edmunds to spend time with Margaret’s sister Jean and her husband Bill and their extended family, but also enjoyed coach holidays with Shearings with friends, going as far as Germany and Spain . Their favourite places in the UK included Llandudno, Barmouth and Bromyard.

By 1990, they had four grandchildren which they immersed themselves in spending lots of time with them, having sleepovers, days out, fishing trips and days at the coast to name a few.

Life on the whole was good, Geoff had some health issues in his 60’s including cancer which he overcame.

However Margaret’s physical health declined before his but he willingly took on the role of caring for her at home, keeping his patience, as she did like to have him running round for cups of tea, her knitting, putting Coronation St on or I need the toilet again!! and many more requests.

In 2011 Christine and John took them to the Isle of Man and had a nostalgic holiday revisiting their old haunts and remembering their younger days. It also gave them the opportunity to visit her brother John who was 88 and living in a care home.

Later in life God gave them 9 great grandchildren, 7 girls and 2 boys who they enjoyed seeing and of whom they were very proud.

Geoff celebrated his 80th Birthday in July 2013, still in good health, then in 2014 he needed major surgery. This time he wasn’t as lucky as it wasn’t a complete success leaving him with some health issues. However he was determined to survive, despite the odds stacked against him, and he battled through it returning home after 4.5 months.  6 weeks later a 2nd blow in the form of a stroke made him a little worse.

He continued to care for Margaret until 2017 when they made a joint decision that mum needed to live in a nursing home. This gave Geoff a new lease of life and he relished the visits almost daily and the company of Margaret and the residents and staff. This life ended in March 2020 when Covid hit our world, and visiting to the care home was stopped.

Sadly Margaret’s life ended with Covid on 30th May 2020.

Geoff still presented as strong and supportive to his family, despite his grief and he enjoyed a relatively nice summer visiting many local places which gave him some good memories. However, his greatest desire was to be with Margaret again, and after a very short illness, he was granted his wish, and was reunited with her on 13th November 2020.

He will be so fondly remembered & sadly missed by all who knew him.

His funeral will take place on Thursday 26th November at Crewe Crematorium.

Cancer Research is the charity chosen by the family & donations to them will be greatly received in memory of Geoff.