Stuart Marsh

“Sad are the hearts that love you , silent are the tears that fall”

Stuart passed away peacefully at Hollymere House Nursing Home on 27th June 2021 aged 70 years.

Devoted Husband of Judy, Loving Dad of Jaimie & Ryan, Cherished Grandad of Christopher.

His funeral took place on Wednesday 14th July 2021 at Crewe Crematorium Chapel at 1pm

Flowers & Donations to The British Heart Foundation.

For further information about Stuart’s funeral, and to offer your condolences, please telephone our Funeral Home on 01270 584447

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We remembered Stuart as someone everyone loved and respected. He was a
beloved husband to Judy, or should we say ‘Jack and Vera’, they were so similar to
the iconic, comedic couple from Corrie, engaged in regular spats and lots of dry
humour and wit thrown in the ring but they totally adored each other. She was
always in awe of how intelligent Stuart was and when she wanted to know
something, she relied on his abundance of knowledge; but then he gave her his old
ipad and she discovered Google!
Stuart was a cherished dad to Jamie and Ryan and his partner Emma, a dear
granddad to Christopher, much loved brother to John and Gail who were watching
from Brisbane, brother-in-law to Pat and John, uncle, great uncle and friend to many.
Stuart was just seventy years young. He struggled with his health for many years,
he had triple bypass surgery ten years ago then at the age of sixty-four, specialists
discovered Stuart’s aortic valve was faulty. Stuart and Judy were separated for a
significant periods when Stuart was hospitalised and it seems from 2015, he was in
hospital every Christmas except 2018 when the family managed to have Christmas
Dinner at Ryans.
He spent the last sixteen months in Hollymere but he passed away peacefully with
his three loved ones holding his hand and as Judy uttered the words ‘I Love You’
Stuart opened his eyes for one last time.
Stuart was taken from his loving family long before they were ready to say goodbye.
Stuart was the middle child, born to Connie and Eric on 27th March 1951 in Crewe.
Sadly, Eric died when Stuart was just a young lad and I gather Stuart missed him
dreadfully. An incredibly bright lad, he attended Crewe Grammar. He was always
keen on playing sport and I gather he came from a cricketing family; Eric Marsh
played for Nantwich and after Stuart developed his own passion for the game, he
played for various clubs. He was also an enthusiastic boy scout and went on to wear
a different uniform when he joined the army for two years.
Stuart embarked on an apprenticeship with the gas board to train as a fitter. But
apparently in between jobs, he worked for a time in the ticket office at Holmes
Chapel Train Station, Judy went in to buy a ticket and came away with a husband!
She went to the junction with her mates and who should turn up with a few of his
pals? When she lent him her prized possession, a red leatherette ‘Beco’ record
player, he really thought it was true love! It was definitely love at first sight for him
but maybe a slow-burner for Judy but everyone used to say they were so well suited.
After courting for nearly three years, they married on 24th August 1974 and their first
home was on Brierley Street with a charming, cottage garden, and wonderful
neighbours, just across the road from Brierley Street School and the playing field
everyone knew as the ‘Razzer’. So, when Jamie and Ryan were youngsters, and
playing in the school yard, Judy could watch them from the upstairs window.

Apparently, their modest home ticked all the boxes and although Judy never wanted
to move, Stuart wanted a semi-detached house with a garage, which created a few a
‘Jack and Vera’ moments, as he only ever put his car in it twice despite living at 321
Hungerford Road for twenty years.
Sixteen years ago, as Judy’s rheumatoid arthritis affected her mobility more, they
moved to their bungalow on Laureston Avenue.
Skipping back in time, after meeting Judy, Stuart had a change of career, a case of
‘not what you know, it’s who you know’ her mum worked at Fodens so managed to
put a good work in for him there. He then went to Royce’s where he became part of
the work study group, monitoring time and motion. After that he switched to Royal
Doulton to work in Health and Safety and after achieving his diploma, another door
opened at Stoke City Council where he landed the role of Health and Safety officer.
He also played cricket for them in the mid-week Staffordshire League joined by
young Ryan from the age of thirteen till he was around twenty. There was plenty of
banter between them but to be fair, Ryan told me his dad was a very good cricketer.
He also supported Jamie when he played football in the Sunday League and joined
him on the lad’s and dad’s team at scouts. He was also extremely proud of Jamie
and Ryan’s involvement in the Gang Show, the annual theatrical performance by
scouts and guides.
And what about holidays? He loved caravanning and got his first caravan at the age
of forty. They travelled far and wide to places like Cornwall, Dorset, Dartmouth,
Spain and France where they experienced the beautiful Dordogne region and the
historic port of Saint Malo; but sadly, the last time they managed to go away in the
caravan was around 2015 and he wasn’t terribly well at the time.
They also went abroad to Magaluf, Majorca and Gran Canaria and their penultimate
holiday was in Corfu where he and Judy hired Lambretta scooters and he was
razzing round the mountains, even in torrential rain, another Jack and Vera moment
with video evidence! Their last holiday was in Benidorm where Judy had been as a
youngster, and she wanted to go back with Stuart, and he did love the stunning
beaches.
He had many interests. Along with Jamie, he was a Man United fan, but Ryan threw
the spanner in the works as a West Ham supporter! Possibly his greatest love for
the last seven years was his little dog Buster, a Jack Russell Cross, rescued by
Stoke City Dog’s Home. He and Judy had gone out for a ride in the car but decided
to visit the dog’s home and they were drawn to little Buster as if they were destined
to have him and Stuart’s only regret was never being able to take Buster away in the
caravan.
He and Judy often liked to do fancy dress, well to be precise, he wasn’t that fussed,
but Judy insisted, and she obviously knew best because he enjoyed himself once he
got there, he even dressed up as Ozzie Osbourne. Judy told me about the time
Stuart was out one Friday Night and someone mentioned a fancy dress ‘party
weekend’ at Yarmouth. When Stuart asked what he and Judy should go in, he was
told “anything!” So, they hired Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn costumes.

The night before, Stuart found out it was actually a seventies night, so the Jack and
Vera moment arrived as he broke the news to Judy – Oh My God, why do you never
listen? Right, she said, we are going to have to bluff it so as they made their
entrance into a room full of seventies revellers, Stuart had hands on hips and a
banner across his back which said “Ok, so we’re at the wrong party again!” And
Anne Boleyn had to follow him round all night.
Stuart was also a keen gardener, and he had the mandatory man shed, just like
Jack. He would disappear for hours and as Judy shouted, “Stuart” he would mutter
“oh for God’s sake!”
And his annoying habits? Not enough time for all of them but his extremely loud
snoring got him banished to the front bedroom and he apparently had to wear a
contraption for sleep apnoea which made him look like Hannibal Lector in Silence of
the Lambs!
Stuart was incredibly proud of both his lads and Ryan paid tribute to his dad with a
collection of moving but funny stories.

May he rest in peace