Marie was the first born of two children to Raymond and Angela Tovey in 1984. She spent the first years of her life in Taff Street in the small mining village of Merthyr Vale. With a loving family home Marie was brought up in a community where money was tight but spirits were high. Marie’s grandmother Jean supported Angela and Raymond in Marie’s upbringing and they loved spending time in the pub Jean shared with Vernon during the Miner’s Strike. This was a fondness Marie never gave up; she always loved a good time and was always the life and soul of the party. She was a happy-go-lucky child and quite wicked at times. At age 4, Marie attended Mount Pleasant Primary School where her personality grew. Her brother Matthew was born when she was 6 years old, and so the family outgrew their small terraced house and moved across the bridge to Aberfan in 1992. Marie and Matthew’s relationship started out as love-hate. Love on Matthews part and hate on Marie’s. Marie was used to being the centre of attention and relished in it but quickly learned to love him like a ‘little mother’. At age 11 Marie was coming of age and started comprehensive school in Afon Taf. It’s fair to say that Marie’s school days were a rocky road but her enthusiasm and sociable nature gained her a lot of friends that still remained out of her school days. As Marie was finding her feet her mother Angela went back to college to fulfil her dream of hairdressing and owning her own salon. Marie also expressed an interest and flair for hairdressing but after falling pregnant young, she put her own dreams on hold when Georgia was born in March 2002. Marie quickly grew into a young lady after her daughter was born and moved to Darren Las, Merthyr Vale where she raised Georgia as a single parent. After a few years, when Georgia was old enough to start school, Marie made a conscious decision to pursue her dream of hairdressing, following in her mother’s footsteps. The pair worked side-by-side with Marie learning her skill and craft at the age of 21. She was a fast learner and endeared the older clients. She was a dedicated student and quickly became fully qualified. She loved the social aspect of the job and the clients really took to her kind nature and warm heart, not forgetting her mischievous sense of humour. Marie was, above all, a people person and after 2 years of working in her mother’s salon she realized her passions lay elsewhere. Suddenly at a loose end Marie picked herself up and tried her hand at care work. Marie had finally found her vocation and worked part-time juggling work and motherhood with support from family and friends. At the age of 24 Marie went to a friend’s 40th birthday party where she happened to bump into an old flame, Martin Wells. Their friendship soon picked up where it left off and their bond quickly became unbreakable. Martin and Marie’s relationship was not short of arguments and difference of opinions but it was clear to everyone that they were a perfect match. The couple spent a few happy, rollercoaster years together before they found out they were expecting a child in 2011. Holly Wells was born on the 9th of December that year and made their relationship stronger by completing the family unit. Marie, Martin, Georgia and Holly spent the first years of holly’s life in Darren Las, Merthyr Vale but, like her parents before her, outgrew the family home. The family moved just a few streets away to Glyndwr Street in the summer of this year where they tailored the house to their family needs. They spent six happy months there before Marie sadly passed away. Marie Tovey was a much loved mother, daughter, sister and friend. She was a fun-loving person and memorable character. She is forever in our hearts and in our thoughts.