Margaret Isabella Craig, retired Tillydrone Primary School teacher, has died aged 93.
The mother-of-three who taught primary six and seven pupils, lived in Mastrick for almost 70 years
Alford born
Margaret Isabella was born on June 29 1929 in Tough, Alford. One of two daughters for cattleman John Ingram and his wife wife Elizabeth, Margaret attended Tarvis school.
With her junior secondary certificate in hand, she left school around the age of 15 to move on to the Pitman School of Shorthand in Aberdeen.
Her new skills as a shorthand typist saw her become the secretary to the manager of Stephenson’s Laundry on King Street.
Wedding bells
She met George Mitchell Craig, who worked in the shipyards, in 1950 at the dancing in Bridge of Don.
The pair began courting and on June 16 1951 they married in Aberdeen registrar’s office.
A stickler for tradition, from there on in she liked her proper title to be adhered to.
The newly married Mrs Craig began married life living with her husband and in-laws at his family home in Ferrier Crescent, Powis.
The couple would go on to have two daughters and a son, and Margaret continued working until her first baby came along in 1953.
Moving to Mastrick
In 1955 new council homes were built in Mastrick. The growing family moved in and Mrs Craig remained there for the rest of her life.
As the children grew, she maintained her hard work ethic, becoming a Studio girl selling cosmetics alongside raising her family.
When her children went to school she also went back to the classroom attending day courses at Aberdeen College of Commerce to secure her Ordinary grades, then Highers. This led to a return to further education between 1969-71 when she attended teacher training school.
Tillydrone Primary
In 1974 she realised her ambition and began working at Tillydrone Primary School. Teaching pupils from the upper end of the school, she stayed there until she retired at 65.
Mr Craig moved from the shipyards to work in Aberdeen bakery, Mitchell and Muil, on Schoolhill before becoming a Cooperative bakery van driver. In later life he was an insurance agent.
Mrs Craig attended Mastrick Parish Church where was a founder member. Early in their marriage she also helped serve the Trustee Savings Bank by collecting the savings of her neighbours, which would then be collected from her on a Saturday morning to be banked.
Happy couple
Both hard workers, the Craigs enjoyed their down time with family and also time together travelling the world.
Favouring cruises they visited the Caribbean among other locations but also enjoyed trips to Russia, Canada, America and India.
When their son moved to Denmark that also became a favourite destination, especially when grandchildren came along.
Fond memories
Mrs Craig lost her husband in 2019 following a diagnosis of dementia.
Her family credit her with “never complaining” even in hard times.
They said: “Mum and dad were devoted to one another and built a wonderful life together. When dad became ill mum turned to looking after him tirelessly. Then we had a pandemic and even then she remained strong. It’s only very recently that her own health has declined.
“This is an opportunity to celebrate them both and the 65 years of marriage they had together.”
Final farewell
After just four days in Rubislaw Care Home, Mrs Craig died aged 93.
Mrs Craig is survived by her three children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Her funeral service will take place on Wednesday June 14, at the chapel of Eric P Massie Funeral Directors.
You can read the family’s announcement here.
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