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Memories of A6 businesswoman Yvonne
A WELL-known Chorley businesswoman has died at the age of 74.
Yvonne Gaunt will be remembered for launching the Doorway to Value furniture store with her husband Reg on the A6 at Whittle-le-Woods.
Originally from Newton-le-Willows, Yvonne married Reg, from Preston, whom she called Red after his first name Redvers, in 1965.
They opened Doorway to Value after buying and running a shop on Seymour Street, Chorley, over which they lived.
One of six children, Yvonne moved to Crewe at the age of three where her father worked for Rolls Royce.
The family moved to Blackpool where her father worked in an aircraft factory on Squires Gate.
She attended St John’s Junior School and Elmslie Grammar School, Blackpool.
Yvonne and Reg, who died in 2001, had their only child, Paul, now, 46, in 1966. Paul currently owns a furniture store in Blackpool.
Paul said: “In the early 70s in Chorley, they moved to Whittle-le-Woods and that’s where people started to get to know mum and dad.
“That’s where Doorway to Value is now and they built and grew the company over the next 30 years.”
The couple sold the company and settled into retirement.
They lived at a number of addresses in Whittle-le-Woods, but since April 2001 Yvonne had lived with Paul in Lytham St Annes.
Paul said he and his mother were active members of St John’s the Evangelist Church, Whittle-le-Woods.
He said: “Mum was an amazing woman. She had a wicked sense of humour and she was as straight as a dye.
“You knew where you stood with her and she will sorely be missed by me.”
Yvonne died in Preston Royal Hospital on Boxing Day morning after a short illness.
Her funeral will take place at St John’s Church on Wednesday, January 9, at noon, followed by interment in the churchyard.
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Weather for Chorley
Tuesday 21 May 2013
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