Morag McGovern (26 Aug 1947 - 26 Dec 2017)

In loving memory of Morag McGovern, who sadly passed away on 26th December 2017, aged 70.

Morag is survived by her husband of 48 years, Peter, her two children, Ross and Gary, and eight grand-children: Michael (7), Julia (5), Ben (3), Sam (3), Peter (3), Jack (2), Katie (20 months) and James (11 months).

Morag Hendry McGovern (nee Masson) was born in Airdrie in 1947 to parents Gordon and Sadie. Morag was the third youngest in a family of seven, comprising six sisters (Betty, Janie, Isobel, Morag, Shirley and Linda) and one brother (Ian). Morag was very close to her family and remained close to and in continuous contact with her sisters and brother throughout their lives.

Though a very bright and able pupil, Morag had to leave school prematurely to seek employment in 1962, aged 15, when her father sadly died, aged 51, and worked in a variety of roles during the 1960's, before joining General Motors, where she spent 8 very happy years, initially as a short-hand typist and latterly as PA to the Engineering Director. Two of her enduring traits were in evidence during this period, making life-long friends and pursuing academic education at evening classes.

She met her future husband, Peter McGovern, in 1966. Introduced at the wedding of Peter's best friend, Gordon Cavinue, Peter gave Morag a lift home and, to the backdrop of Frank Sinatra's "Strangers in the Night", the two got to know each other, striking up a bond that was to endure all the highs and lows of life over a period of 50 years. Morag and Peter married on 30 May in 1969, at Flowerhill Parish Church, Airdrie.

Morag gave up her job in industry, primarily to look after her two sons: Ross, born on 6th May 1978, and Gary, born on 1 June 1980. Ever multi-tasking, whilst raising her sons and enjoying - and organising - family life, Morag began a writing career in her spare time, firstly producing light-hearted poetry before progressing into novels. During the 80s, Morag had 9 light romantic novels published by Hale, with subsidiary rights sold to numerous domestic and foreign publishers around the world.

With both sons settled in school, Morag resumed her education, as a mature student at Strathclyde University, graduating in 1991 with joint honours in English and Psychology, then gained a P.G.C.E in Secondary Education at Jordanhill, before embarking on a second career as an English teacher from 1992.

Morag worked as an English Teacher in High schools for over 20 years, principally at Braidhurst High School in Motherwell and latterly Eastbank Academy in Glasgow, finishing her teaching career as a Principal Teacher of Pastoral Care, in charge of a House group of 250 young people in Glasgow. Despite the demands of the "day-job" and family life, Morag also resumed her writing career during school holidays and had a further two novels published by Hale in 2005 and 2006.

During this period the family increasingly enjoyed the fruits or her, and her husband's, labours. In particular, Morag relished time spent on family holidays; progressing from caravan and beach holidays in UK, France and Spain in the early years, to locations increasingly further afield. Morag was particularly fond of cruises, and visiting Italy and the United States of America, where she holidayed on many occasions in later years.

Then, in 2010, she was delighted to celebrate the arrival of her first grand-child. Little did she know that, to her delight, a further seven grand-children (including one set of twins) would follow in short-order thereafter! Morag retired in 2012 to spend time with her ever expanding family but remained active, travelling with her husband, visiting her son, Ross, in the United States, visiting her sisters around the UK and spending time with her many friends.

Fittingly, at the end of her life, Morag returned to Airdie, the town where she was born and married, spending the last weeks of her life in the company of her friends and close family at St Andrew's Hospice. Morag passed away peacefully, in the company of her family, at 11.45pm on Boxing Day.

Wife, mother, grand-mother, Principal Teacher and published author - Morag lived a very fulsome, productive and happy life, making a mark in all that she did and on the many people she met along the way. One of a kind: she will be sorely missed by all who knew her.