A VERY genuine person who had helped raise hundreds of pounds for the Royal British Legion and for whom darts and her garden was among her passions were some of the ways people had described Mrs Joan Florence Grant.

Joan was born in April 1944. She died on December 13. Her funeral service was held at Exeter and Devon Crematorium on January 7, conducted by Mr John Gooding.

The Legion standard was carried throughout the ceremony by Crediton branch Standard Bearer Mike May.

Mr Gooding said Joan had been born at Uxbridge, Middlesex. She had a brother and a sister. When Joan was very young the family moved to Devon and she went to school at Silverton.

On leaving school she had worked in a television shop on Crediton High Street for some time, then working at local filling stations, including Shell at Crediton and the one that had been opposite the Parish Church, now Crediton Car Sales.

Joan met Ivan in Crediton, romance blossomed and they were married in November 1964.

They had three children - Glen, Gary and Dawn, six grandchildren and one great grandson.

Mr Gooding said Joan had been an active member of the Royal British Legion at Crediton for a long time. In 2012 she received a long service certificate in recognition of her years of selling poppies and as a member of the branch committee. Joan had been among those who knitted red and purple poppies for Poppy Day.

Darts was something else where Joan excelled. She was a member of the team who several times won the Rotary darts tournament for raising the most sponsorship money.

She was secretary of Kirton and District Ladies Darts League for 30 years, June Bilcock was chairman and Di Hammett vice chairman.

Joan played for the Crediton Inn and was a member of the team that was the first champion of the new Ladies League. Later she moved to the Plymouth Inn in the days of John and Sylvia Knight, continuing to play there when Jeanette Titt and her husband took over the pub.

When Nette moved to play at Potters, Joan did too and they continued to play there until about five years ago. June had moved to The Mitre team. Nette died last May.

Ivan was a member of Crediton Bowling Club and Joan used to go along to home matches with him.

Mr Gooding said how Joan had loved knitting, spending hours with the knitting needles clicking making garments for different causes.

Gardening, too, was something else she enjoyed, looking after her pot plants and flower beds. Mr Gooding said Joan had been "a real conservationist".

She had cared for Ivan when he was taken ill, then becoming ill herself. Ivan and his family thank all the people who helped Joan.

Mr Gooding said that Joan would be much missed by her family and many friends.

Donations for Hospiscare in memory of Joan may be made through LeRoy Funerals, 94-95 High Street, Crediton EX17 3NT.