Shropshire family in shock as mother-of-five dies

Deb Morris was today described as "my rock" by devastated husband Ade, who met her through the Shropshire Star lonely hearts column 17 years ago.

Mrs Morris went for her pre-operative assessment before enjoying lunch out with her husband and collecting their youngest four children from school.

Hours later on June 30 the devoted mum, who worked at Asda in Donnington Wood, Telford, began to feel unwell and her husband called an ambulance the following morning as her condition deteriorated.

She underwent emergency surgery at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital but died the following evening on July 2.

Today her devastated husband, from Lawley Village, spoke of his shock at his wife's death.

He said the couple met through the Shropshire Star advert, spoke on the phone, met several times over the following few weeks and then he moved in the following week before marrying in 2004.

He said a post mortem has since revealed his wife was suffering from appendicitis. Her appendix ruptured and caused peritonitis.

The couple have five children – Jonathan, 21, Rebecca, 10, Sophie, nine, Lucy, six and Michael, five. The youngest four children are all pupils at Lawley Primary School where they are being supported by staff.

Paying tribute Mr Morris, who works at Furrows in Shrewsbury, said: "Deb was the rock, she kept everyone together and kept everything together.

"She had got a tremendous inner strength and determination to carry on regardless of what pain she was in with her hip.

"She used to do all of the school runs with the four children, did the lunches and did everything to make sure the children were happy."

Mrs Morris suffered from osteoarthritis which had resulted in her needing a hip replacement.

Mr Morris had written to the consultant begging for his wife to undergo the surgery despite her young age in order for her to enjoy a full and active life with their young children. He said: "Despite all that pain when she really should have given up work, she carried on for the sake of the children, to give them everything they wanted and so we could afford everything like the holidays for the children.

"She was due to have that operation imminently but she fell ill so suddenly and we've since found out it was appendicitis."

The Lawley community has been left in shock by Mrs Morris's sudden death and have joined together with the school to support the Morris family.

Year 6 children started a collection for the Morris family at last week's sports day.

Mr Morris said: "I've been taken aback by the help and support that's been offered by the community.

"Lawley Primary School, particularly the headteacher Carol, has been amazing. This would have been so much harder without their help. Deb would be embarrassed really as she didn't like a lot of attention."

The family were due to enjoy their annual family holiday to Butlins next week to mark the start of the summer holidays, which Mr Morris said "Deb and the children loved".

Now Mr Morris is creating memory boxes for each of the children, with items that will help them remember their mum in the future.

A photograph taken of the couple and published in the Shropshire Star when they married is among the items included in the boxes.

They met after Ade replied to Deb's Meeting Point advert in the Shropshire Star.

They explained at the time that the meeting was seen as a bit of a joke by friends but that six years on they were having the last laugh as they planned an August wedding at The Oakley in Brewood, Staffordshire.

The couple's 1daughter, Rebecca, who will be reading a poem at her mum's funeral, today paid tribute on behalf of her siblings.

"Mummy was good at making cakes and very good at cooking. No-one can make cakes like Mummy.

"Mum's favourite colour was green and she loved roses so I've made some to give out at her funeral and I've made a plant pot for her," Rebecca said.

Her younger sister Sophie has written a little book entitled All About Mum.

Mrs Morris's funeral will be held on Wednesday at Telford Crematorium at 11am.

All donations are welcome for the Sleapy Cat Rescue based in Sleap, Wem due to the family's love of cats.

Carol Mcquiggin, headteacher at Lawley Primary School said: "We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Mrs Morris and Lawley Primary School community extended its heartfelt sympathy to Ade and the children.

"As the days pass it has been truly remarkable to see the overwhelming support and generosity the children, parents and community have shown, with offers of dinner, housework, fundraising activities and out-of-school activities for the children. I really hope that this is some comfort to the family."

Anybody in the Lawley community who wants to donate to the school collection can forward any donations to the school office.