SPREYTON Parish Church was full, so were the chairs set outside in the churchyard near the door to the church with even more people standing under the trees and in the sun among the tombstones to celebrate the life of Marjorie Joyce Redstone (Marge), the service being relayed outside.
Marge died in the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, aged 93, after a short illness.
At the service prayers were led by Colin Smallacombe, the Eulogy given by David Cole with Marge’s son Phil giving a Reading and her grand-daughters and great-grand-daughter reading their poems and a prayer.
Marge went to school at North Tawton and worked hard on the farm, often carrying 2cwt sacks of maize on her back.
She married Cyril after he came back from Burma where he had been stationed in World War Two. They had six children - Jean, Beryl, John, Gerry, Phil and Anne.
In 1956 they were offered a council house, 4 Cross Meadow and it was there Marge lived for the rest of her life - 63 years and some hard times.
Her sons were none too keen on washing and Marge would say: "My boy there are two things that are free to you...water to wash with and manners, and you will use both in this house!"
During the war years a lifelong friendship was made with an evacuee when Joyce arrived in June 1940 to stay with Marge’s family and that friendship has continued through Joyce’s two daughters.
Marge enjoyed the village life, joining the WI and regularly went to the luncheon club at the Waie Inn but it was her chapel life she enjoyed the most. She became a full-time member of Spreyton Methodist Church and was a Sunday School teacher there.
A few years after Marge became a Christian she would travel with the Hooper and Westlake families known as the "Singing Farmers", where she would recite and give her testimony.
Wherever she was asked to go she was always happy to speak of her Lord Jesus and say what He had done for her. She also helped David and Catherine Cole at the Christian Holiday Camps, usually in the kitchen, where laughter was abundant!
Marge was a strong women, she had to be for she lost her husband, three daughters, one son and a daughter-in-law all prematurely.
She was blessed with eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great, great, grandchild.
She will be much missed by so many people for so many reasons...her outspoken mind (said what she thought), that sparkle and the smile.
David Cole spoke of the first time he met Marge, how she had heard them singing "The Old Rugged Cross" and joined them at the service. That was one of the hymns sung at the parish church at the celebration of her life.
Donations may still be made in Marge’s memory to be shared between Gideons, The Barnabas Fund and Spreyton Village Chapel through A White and Sons, Albert Road, Crediton EX17 2BZ.
Refreshments after the service were at the Tom Cobley at Spreyton where there was a book for people to write their own remembrances of Marge.