Tribute to Douglas centenarian Mary Ramage

DOUGLAS lady Mary Ramage (nee Napier), who died in Lady Home Hospital on July 12, packed an incredible amount into her 100 years.

Indeed, she spent the final 74 of them in the same home in Kilncroft Terrace!

Born in Thankerton as Mary Napier on June 9, 1910, Mary was only four when her mum died, and she was brought up instead by her grandparents.

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After attending the local Covington School until she was 14, Mary started working as a maid on farms.

She soon met and fell in love with pit worker Andrew Ramage, and the couple wed in Thankerton Hall on July 14, 1933.

Mary and Andrew's first marital home was at Braehead, Douglas, before they moved to Kilncroft Terrace in September 1936.

Mary wasn't to know it at the time, but this address was to remain her home for almost 74 years!

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The couple's first child, also called Mary, was born in July 1935.

Following the tragic death of Andrew in a mining accident in May 1939, the couple's second daughter Jessie was born in November that year.

"My mum just had to find a way of coping with my dad's death," said Jessie (70). "During World War Two (1939 to 1945), two Polish soldiers were billeted to stay in the house at one point.

"The Poles were very well looked after. They were given the two bedrooms, while my mum and sister slept in the living room."

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Mary was an extremely hard working woman. As her two daughters reached school age and began attending Douglas School, she worked as a civilian cook within the vehicle repair depot in a local camp between 1944 and 1947.

"She dropped us off when we were going to school," Jessie said. "And she didn't finish working until we were both back home."

Mary then worked as a house cleaner between 1947 and 1955, before spending the next 18 years as a canteen assistant at Douglas School.

She retired in 1973, helping to look after her seven grandchildren.

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Mary joined the Mother's Union and Women's Rural Institute, and Jessie smiled when she recalled that her mother first joined an Over 50s Club when she was in her 80s!

"She thoroughly enjoyed going there because she liked the company," Jessie said.

"One afternoon a week, the members gathered in Douglas Community Centre to play whist and dominoes."

Jessie said that several relatives visited Mary during a 10-day period around her recent 100th birthday celebrations.

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"My mum was a no-frills person," she added. "She liked people visiting her but didn't like a lot of fuss.

"My mum's cake just said '100' on it rather than having 100 candles.

"I told her I didn't want to set the place on fire!"

Mary's funeral was held at Douglas Church on July 20, when a well attended service was taken by Rev Robert Cleland.

"The funeral went very well," Jessie said. "When he was paying tribute to my mum, Mr Cleland made a point of saying that he'd have to refer to her as Mrs Ramage, such was the respect he had for her.

"My mother had a remarkable life. It is incredible that she was a widow for 71 years. She coped and she was just mum. I can't say any more than that."