Tributes to community stalwart 'who always had a smile on her face'

Mo Booth at her Mexcraft group before her death

Maureen Booth — known as Mo — died on April 24 after a brave battle with cancer — and her partner has said that her funeral will be open to all.

A well-known community stalwart who set up the popular Mexcraft group, Mo lived on Schofield Street and organised collections for good causes over the years.

The mother of two’s funeral will take place on Tuesday, May 15, at Ardsley Crematorium in Barnsley, starting at 2.10pm.

Her partner Irving Bolyard — known as Bud — said: “Anybody can come along.”

Bud (63) said that he had been moved by the warmth of emotion felt towards Mo.

He said: “She always had a smile on her face.

“She was community-orientated. If she could buy local, she would.”

Mo set up the Mexcraft group to teach crafts to local people at Mexborough Resource Centre five years ago.

It now meets every Tuesday at Mexborough Library and has 30 members.

Bud said he wanted the group to continue in her memory.

Mo was born in Ireland before coming over to England aged 17 where she initially worked for a priest.

She married and had two sons, William and Michael.

Mo met Bud when the American took a job in Mexborough in 2004.

He said that she had many friends, not only in Mexborough but across the world via Facebook.

Bud described as a humble person who was charitable and friendly, adding: “She never did anything to bring herself to the spotlight.”

A collection will be taken at the funeral for St John’s Hospice in Doncaster.

A message on Mexcraft’s Facebook page said: “We have lost a very special dear friend. RIP Mo.”

Mexborough First councillor Sean Gibbons paid his own tribute to Mo.

He said: “I knew Maureen for several years and she was very well known across the Mexborough community for her passionate and proactive approach and opinions.

“She always said it how it is and brought a smile to so many faces.

“I had the final opportunity of seeing Maureen recently at St John’s Hospice and we both laughed together at a trip down memory lane.

“She will be sadly missed by so many. Hopefully, her hard work at Mexcraft will continue for many years to come.”