A DAUGHTER has today paid tribute to her Suffolk born and bred parents who died just days apart.George and May Davis lived their whole lives in Suffolk but after 86-year-old Mrs Davis lost a battle with cancer earlier this month, Mr Davis survived for only another 12 days.

A DAUGHTER has today paid tribute to her Suffolk born and bred parents who died just days apart.

George and May Davis lived their whole lives in Suffolk but after 86-year-old Mrs Davis lost a battle with cancer earlier this month, Mr Davis survived for only another 12 days.

Today, their eldest daughter Jean Childs, of Yoxford, said: “They had been married 66 years and I think mum dying was just too much for him.

“He was very poorly but I think he was just hanging on for her and that tipped him.”

Mr Davis, known as Eric, died of natural causes on August 12, aged 89. He had spent the past three years in care after having a stroke as Mrs Davis was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus and was no longer able to care for him.

Mrs Childs said: “Unfortunately mum didn't get to visit him as regularly as she would have liked towards the end. It was a 14 mile journey and she couldn't go by herself so it was difficult to arrange.

“The last time they saw each other was about two months ago.”

Mr Davis, who served at Dunkirk during the First World War, was born in Yoxford and met his wife after she moved to the village from Halesworth as a young girl.

After returning from the war, Mr Davis worked for a haulage firm in Yoxford and then at Sizewell A as a plant attendant.

Mrs Davis was a cook at a nearby school and at Sizewell A. After they retired, they both worked at the Sizewell Information Centre prior to Sizewell B being built.

The couple lived in Yoxford until around 20 years ago when they moved to Halesworth. They were well-known in the bowling community, and Mr Davis was a keen footballer, playing until he was in his 40s.

Mr and Mrs Davis had two sons, Barrie and Roger Davis, and three daughters, Jean Childs, Margie Robinson and Liz Emsden, who all live in the area. The pair also had 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Mr Davis' life is being held at Yoxford Parish Church on Monday at 2pm, followed by a private cremation.

The family have asked for guests not to wear black clothes and for no flowers to be sent.

Donations can be made to Halesworth Community Nursing Care Fund, care of Tony Brown's Funeral Service, Saxmundham.

Would you like to pay tribute to Mr and Mrs Davis? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk