I first met you Charlie in 1996 as Steve's girlfriend.  We used to stay at your house whenever I visited Liverpool.  I can remember being really nervous meeting you for the first time, but I really didn't need to be.  You welcomed me with open arms from the first time I met you and over the years our relationship developed into a very special Father/Daughter-In- Law bond which I will treasure always.  When our children came along, you were so proud to be a Grandad and would spend many weekends with us doting after Liam and Olivia.  You never forgot your first granddaughter Lauren either, this Charlie, meant so much to me and is sentiment to the person you were.  Kind, caring, thoughtful and considerate towards everyone you met.  Whenever we spoke, you would always ask how my parents and sisters were.  You were genuinely interested.  You were genuinely caring. I feel so lucky to have had you in my life for the 25 years that I did.

I remember you having my old i-phone and how you embraced learning how to use it.   It wasn’t long before you were in the Apple Store trading it in for a better version.  Once we’d set you up with WhatsApp we could chat more frequently and not leave it until our weekly ‘early’ Sunday morning phone call.  I miss our chats… You’d let me know what the day had in store for you and what jobs Norma had given you to do.  You’d phone me worrying about Steve when he was out riding on his bike and ask me to let you know when he was home safe. You’d tell me about the various errands you were running for your many friends.  You’d ask after the kids all the time and loved receiving pictures of them.  You’d always ask me to send you photos of my cakes and I remember feeling so touched that you had kept them all saved in a folder on your phone.  I remember with a smile how we used to laugh about the amount of pictures that Steve would send you and how you always knew a message was from him as your phone would ping, ping, ping 20 plus times! 

In recent years I remember the devastation and sadness you endured after losing your beloved Norma and how life for you became more difficult to bare.  I remember the sadness in those blue eyes of yours and how I wished we could help heal your broken heart.  I pray you are now together again re-united in each others arms and happy once more. 

Charlie, there are so many things I could write, as I have so many fond memories to treasure, but I am going to leave it here and just give thanks...…….
Thank you for being the wonderful Father In Law that you were to me, I felt very loved by you.                                                                      Thank you for being the loving caring granddad you were to our children. 
Thank you for being the best Dad to Steve
Thank you for the laughter and fun times we shared.
Thank you for your generosity, selflessness and words of wisdom.                                                                                                              Thank you for getting up with the children when you came to stay so we could have a lay in :-D

Thank you for being YOU  xx

Gone but most definitely NOT forgotten.  Love you xx