Gladys May Kirk (Jones) was born in Princes Road Wallsend to Joesph Parker Jones and his Wife May Jones on the 10 November 1924, she was the forth of six children, the others being William (Bill) Hannah (Nan) Ivy, Norah and Joesph (Joe). Gladys in her youthful years was active in the Brownies and Girl Guides In 1949 she met her late husband Hugh Kirk at a funeral in Wallsend, The in December 1950 they got married in the Medithost Church on Wallsend High Street ( It being no longer there)they went to live in Dalmellington where Hugh worked as a miner for all his live. She lived at Merrick Drive Bellsbank for over 50 years before she moved in to the Glebe Care Nursing Home as a full time resident. On the 27th December 1951 their son John was born, the on the 13th May 1953 their daughter May was born. Gladys started work in a florist's shop at Lobley Hill Gateshead where she trained as a florist, she also enjoyed knitting, sewing, needlework and baking. She also gave much support to the Woman's Guild. to the Church and to the Christain Faith, expressing her Christain grace by giving knitted articles, such as cardingans and jumpers, to those in need. she also used to make tablet and toffee for halloween and for Bellsbank School sale of Work to raise funds for the school. Every year when John and May were small Gladys and Hugh would come down to Wallsend for the summer holidays and stay with relatives where they would go down to Whitley Bay if the weather was nice and play on the beach. In later years it became more difficult for the famliy to stay at relatives as there was no room, John who in 1978 had moved to North Shields was then able to give his parents a place to stay and they would come down at least once a year to see John and the rest of the family. Gladys used to enjoy a game of bingo in Dalmellington and when she came down to Wallsend she would go for a game with her daughter in law Gwen. She also enjoyed going out to Burton Club with Hugh on a Saturday Night when John and May had grew up. Gladys did for a time work at Butlin's holiday camp in Ayr though always insisted that he was the family bread winner. Gladys was first and formost a loving, caring wife and mother, and alway prepared for the duties and of being a miner's wife. With Hugh working the back shifts in the pits, Gladys single-handedly raised her children, who saw their farther mainly at week-ends. Until his death in 1987 gladys was devoted to hugh as she was to her children, her grandson Glenn and her great grandchildren Danioel, Benjium, Jack and Tyler who now survie her. Gladys was a strong willed and independent yet also a quiet lady, who proved medical staff wrong when they once told her that she would never walk, but Gladys proved them wrong. she will be much missed by all her family and friends God Bless you mum