Former music teacher and church organist Ngaire Guy past away last weekend after more than 40 years teaching music and playing the organ at St Enoch's Church.

Ngaire's lifetime of work with music was recognised in 2011 when she was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music.

Ngaire moved to Tauranga in 1951 with her husband Clarrie and a young family. Clarrie worked in Inland Revenue and came to Tauranga with a few other civil servants to establish the Tauranga branch, which in those days was in Grey Street.

'Mum and Dad came from Christchurch,” says son Murray. 'At the time the Inland Revenue Department was based in Rotorua. My father, along with two or three others came here to open up the new IRD office in the Bay.

'In the public service you were expected to move if you wanted to get promotion. My parents just fell in love with the place and never left, so I was born here, as was my younger brother, Ian.

'With my sister and two brothers they took up residence in a state house opposite the girl's college which was a dairy farm at the time.

'And she was subsequently very active in Tauranga South School on the PTA. I think there is even a tree planted up there.”

Ngaire was also organist at St Enoch's Presbyterian Church, a position she held for 40 years.

'Mum started teaching music in her early twenties and continued right on till she was legally blind and using some form of TV camera and screen for the music,” says Murray.

'She's sung a few hymns in her day.”

Ngaire died at the Bob Owens retirement village last Saturday afternoon and is remembered fondly by family and friends. Her funeral was held at the Pyes Pa Crematorium Chapel.