THE funeral took place at St Andrew's Church, South Tawton, on Friday, March 22 of Mrs Kim Davies.
Kim and her husband, Philip, met at the Quaker school, Sidcot, but it was not until ten years later that they were reacquainted and commenced 27 years of married life.
It is not easy to be married to a veterinary surgeon in practice since the hours can be challenging and unpredictable but Kim threw these problems to one side and filled her various roles of wife, mother, child minder, district nurse and community matron, among many others, with apparent ease.
By living in a number of houses in Sticklepath and South Zeal she made lifelong friends with a series of neighbours and members of the community.
She had a remarkable ability to relate to people at all levels and an amazing memory that was useful for ward rounds where lengthy and complicated medical histories could be recounted by her without notes to the astonishment of her colleagues.
Kim helped to run Springfields Community Care delivering care into people's homes but unfortunately her illness meant she had to cease her role heading a 40-strong team of people looking after patients from Torrington to Princetown.
She was a successful chairman of the Friends of South Tawton Primary School and again, it is a tribute to her that she steered a number of auctions and school barbecues with great skill in order to raise record breaking amounts of money.
More recently she spearheaded a successful bid to keep St Mary's Church Sticklepath, open for the people of the village and last year she carried out her role beautifully as president's wife for Okehampton Agricultural Show.
Behind all of this her main drive and determination was for her children, whom she loved more than words can describe. She was the ultimate tiger mother; metaphorically fighting her children's corner. Amelia, Harriet and Lily will continue with their chosen roles as a doctor, lawyer and nurse knowing that they have made their mother proud.
Kim's family are grateful for the hundreds of doctors and nurses who cared for her and it must be said that the staff of Cherrybrook and Yeo Wards at the RD&E are truly remarkable for the love and affection they show to their patients.
She was totally honest and a very loyal friend. Because of this she had a small army of people who helped to improve her and her family's quality of life such as taking her to treatments, helping with the shopping, cooking meals, and childcare when the girls were younger. The family are very much in their debt.
Even at the end, Kim reflected on a life that she said she would not swap for anything. Her courage and strength are an inspiration to us all.
The funeral with over 400 people in attendance was conducted by the Rev Stephen Cook. The retiring collection raised in excess of £3,342 in support of St Mary's Church Sticklepath, St Andrew's Church South Tawton and Breast Cancer Research.
Mourners: Philip, Amelia, Harriet and Lily Davies, Bob and Marilyn Sadler, David and Heather Sadler, Ashley, Francesca, Phoebe and Hepzibah Greensides, Alan and Liz Green, John and Hazel Wilson, Frank and Pauline Wilson, Ravenna and Allan Edgar, Chris Sadler, Kevin and Siobhan Gunning, Charles Balfour, Tony, Helen, Annabel and Hugh Clark, Peter, Rebecca, Stuart and Marcus Hoddinott, Don and Evonne Reason, George and Gwen Berry, Alan and Janet Wright (rep Liz Aylmer and Jenny Stock), Dick and Sue Norrish, Simon and Aly Gregory, Penny Steadman, Ruth Kerr, Richard and Philippa Cobb, John Gale, Gena Gunning, Giles Sayzeland, Liza Burgess, Jo Royal (Sam, Jack Ella and Riou), Phil and Anne Haygarth, Julie and Jodie Ford, Charles, Sue and Laura Parry, Kay Loram (Lloyd Thomas), Jan and Jane Jachnik, Olivia Treglowin, Robin and Sue Tilley, Helen Cornthwaite, Karen Pearson, Linda Clinch, Marion Clinch (Okehampton CP), Linda Bellairs, Jill Watson, Mike, Philippa and Freya Ritchie, Penny Lees, Olive Darbyshire, Ian and Linda Lee, Jerry Stephens, Lennon and Fanny Foo, Ginny Moore, John and Mark Chadbourne, Ritchie and Phil Irvine, Rachel Ludlam, Maureen Rodway, Rosie Webber, Ian and Sheila Hirst, Craig and Fiona Davidson, Jonathon, Julia and Sam Webber, Keith, Judith and Amy Glover, Chris Mossman,
Tabbin and Lucy Almond (Jon and Edward Almond), Mark and Marj Rundle (Fred, Celia and Patricia Rundle, Ray Cole, Andrew Brock), David Hocking (Alison Hocking), Peter Cobbledick (Jill and Jim), Jill Nielson (Paul and family), Lesley Harris, Douglas Alford, Sarah Hancock (Phil), Daryl Smeddle (Rob, Sam and Lucy), Richard, Ursula and Kasia Jewell (Vashti and Nya), John and Margaret Hockridge (Okehampton Show), Roger and Helen Alford, Mike and Jenny Crocker (Tom and Pam Endacott), Margaret Church, Monica Roberts, Anthony and Mary Binns, Allen and Rachel Van Der Steen, Martine Ronaldson, Judy and Helena Marshall, Ruby Jefferys, Sharon Laws, Bryan Ainslie, Jon and Angela Herrod- Taylor,
Roger Cunningham (Deborah), Angie Love, Bill Stewart, Manaj Chitnavis, Andjez Chrupek, Sue Cloke, Alison Marsh, Deborah and Anthony Edwards, Malcolm and Michelle Downie, Bridget Chisholm, Ann Potts, Pauline Pontet-Piccolomini and Carrol Jevons, Chris Sobey, Vera White, Kevin, Patricia, Rebecca and Alice Glover, Lesley Bingham, Jane White (Martin White), Chris and Lynne Jarman, Veronica Block, Drew and Judy Langdon, Patricia Geikie, Chris and Karen Garrod, Moira Popplestone, Mark and Nicky Souness, Paul Reddaway, Pete and Deby Hardy, Denise and Richard Horner, Judy Rogers, Wendy Bloor, Hugh Trerise (family), Ian and Deb Leavey, Samantha Weston, Katie Mountain, Charlotte Tighe, Tom Walton, Rachel Varughese, Peter and Holman and Pauline Williams, Robert Reddaway, Diana Alford (Crispin Alford), Claire Woodward, Chris Thomas, Chris Bishop and Sabine Taylor, Rob Hinds, Corinne Hill, Peter and Gill Williams, Ian and Jennifer Bowkley, Alison Cruse, Mike and Libby Watson, Michael and Carol Johns, John and Jill Redman, Jeremy and Teresa Ryall (family), Helen Harris, Roger and Hazel Hands, Brian and Fiona Jeffery, Pam White (Roger), Thea Sampson (David, Kate and Hollie), Maria Cooper (John Cooper, Nigel Elson, Michael and Sue Wonnacott), Shirley and Michael Bazeley (Helen Brint), Victor and Margaret Dennis (Phil, Heather, Peter Dennis and families), Roger and Ann Bowden, Nikki Wooldridge (Mike, Alex and Dominic), Ian and Helen Howard (Jennifer, Lucinda and Edmund), Julian and Lesley Pillar (Elspeth Brint and Melanie Mills and families), Tracey Smith (Garry Smith and family), Joyce Woods (Barry Woods, Philip and Peggy Keast), Debbie Hancox, Steve and Kathy Byrne, Alice Caird, Alice Agnew, Vernon and Wendy Clarke, Don and Tracey Payne, Stan Cooper (Marion Cooper), Mandie Rose (John and Jamie Rose), Mandy Miller, Bill and Kath Matthews, Sam Cooper and Jan Swift, Margaret Down, Jane Jecks, Martyn and Dy Vivian, Maria Hooper, Tina and Dave Chadwick, Jacky Davey, Michael and Emily Boother, Martin, Judy, Martha and Eliza Unwin, Louise Pitts-Tucker, David Harris (Lawrie and Mike Harris), Julie Ricketts, Sarah Bevan, Kirstin Phippard, Tom and Claire Baille and Lizzie Bishop, Theresa Weaver, William and Sarah Treloar, Mark Bingham, Kate Mouncey, Mandy Edwin, Julia O'Connor, Andrew, Joey, Jessica, Luke and Dominic McLennan, Andrew, Nicola and Dorothy Clark (Ann-Marie Bowles), Ceinwen Revington, Sue Revington and Fred Spare, Joylene and Harrison Reece, Rachel Bush, Gemma Morley, April Luffingham, Sarah Clark (Okeford Veterinary Centre), Rachel Mounsey, Nigel and Alice Padfield, Louise Kelly, Mary Hutchings (Derek and Karen), Mary Barkwell (Gloria Gee), Robert Barkwell (Carol Barkwell), Richard and Caroline Long, Julian and Dawn Kupfer (Western Counties Veterinary Association), Ciara Finnigan, Hannah Hawes, Elaine Hill, Eleanor Hughes, Bob and Lorna Young, Richard Hopkins, John and Teresa Christian (Kari McGowan), Richard and Kathleen Hughes, Aaron and Judith Beacom, Caroline Boother, Pete and Caroline Pengelly, Bob Griffin, John Davidson, Annette Goswell, Philippa Smallwood, Michael Porter, Tom, Sarah and Molly Bell, David and Rona Gundry, David and Linda Buckley (VetsWest), Bill, Nicky, Jack, Jim and Olivia Smith, Will Edwards, Luke Salter, Jennifer and Freya Edmondson, Sarah and Feuzi Arikan, Stella Hudson (Sarah Blacksell), Simon Herbert, Neil Gilbanks, Wendy Manfield, Jeremy Griggs (Patricia), Chris and Kathryn Vile, Graeme and Di Kent, Nick and Julia Bradley, John and Eileen Birch, Tim, Felicity, Polly, Ellie and Fred Martin, Reg Wonnacott, Sue Wonnacott, Jenny Shaddick, Brian and Jane Hignett, James Dawson, Pat Evans, Lynne Cox, Izzy Smith, Abigail Collins, Felicity Clarke, Hope Ritchie, Sally Button and Simon Channing, Helen Moore, Paul and Jane Holmes, Chris and Marion Walpole, Sam Beldon, Jeremy Swan, Tim and Hilary Davies, Dave and Gabby Wakely, David Goodwin (Hilary Gillespie), Phil Hawking, Pat and Lynne Sheriden, Ollie Ellsworth, Olivia Selley, Ali Langdon, Dan Barnes.