Agnes made it to her 100th birthday by just ten minutes

Aug 3 2012 by Lynn Jolly, Paisley Daily Express

TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved pensioner who died just 10 minutes into her 100th birthday.

Agnes Allison McNaughtan – known as Nessie – passed away at a Paisley care home at 12.10am on Wednesday.

And her family are convinced that she clung on to life so she could reach the historic day.

Her nephew, Hugh McNaughtan, told the Paisley Daily Express: “We’re glad she made it to 100. She had a brilliant life, so what more can you ask?

“At the age of 86, she was still going round the old folks’ homes, playing the piano and entertaining them, and she was still driving when she was 95.”

Hugh’s wife Marie added: “She died at 12.10am and we are sure she was determined to hang on for her birthday.

“We still had a party at the care home and we had a cake from Greggs, which they gave us for free, and this was shared out.”

Nessie, whose maiden name was Connelly, originally hailed from Elderslie and went on to live in Paisley before moving into Westerfield Care Home just over a year ago.

Hugh added: “Her mother Agnes Allison, nee Leckie, came from a family who lived in the Houston and Elderslie areas and they all survived into their 80s and 90s.”

Nessie married Hugh Vallance McNaughtan in 1941 and, a year later, she suffered tragedy when her brother William was killed during the Second World War.

She was widowed 32 years ago.

Hugh said: “Her husband was a burgh engineer for Paisley Corportation and was also chairman of St Mirren Football Club in the 1960s.

“He had duties with the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and other organisations and also played Junior football and was a Justice of the Peace.

“While he was doing all of those things, Aunt Nessie played golf or tennis.

“Her dad William was a potter at Shanks and was a great fiddler. He pushed her into doing her LRAM – Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music – and she became a piano teacher.

“She was an honorary life member of Paisley Musical and Operatic Society.

“Aunt Nessie’s mother also got her into college to become a contometer operator and she went on to work in the office at Stephen’s shipyard in Govan.

“As well as being a member of Elderslie Tennis Club, Elderslie Golf Club and The Inner Wheel Club of Paisley, she was also a member of Oakshaw Trinity Church.

“Right up until recently, Aunt Nessie knew more about politics than I did and she loved watching Question Time on television.”

Nessie was still in relatively good health until six months ago, when she started to struggle with shingles and then suffered a mild stroke.

Hugh added: “Aunt Nessie’s death marks the end of an era.”

Nessie is survived by Hugh, Marie and their daughter Stella; Hugh’s brother Ronnie, his wife Diane and their daughter Julie; and nephew Ian McNaughtan, his wife Mary and their son Adam.

The family would like to thank Nessie’s neighbour Gordon Bruce for all his help and support, as well as thanking the staff at Westerfield Care Home for their compassion.

Nessie’s funeral will take place at Woodside Crematorium, in Paisley, on Wednesday, starting at 11am.