ONE of the doyennes of women's lawn bowls in Cairns, Margaret Noble, was farewelled by more than 200 people yesterday.
The 78-year-old died suddenly on Tuesday night at her Whitfield home and her funeral service was held at St John Anglican Church.
Mrs Noble was born in Cairns in 1932 and was a keen sportswoman as well as having passions for the piano, ballet, tap dancing and sailing before following husband John into the sport of lawn bowls.
She joined the Edge Hill Memorial Ladies Bowls Club about 40 years ago and in 1981 was a founding member of the Marlin Coast Bowls Club with her husband, John.
As well as being an accomplished bowler, Mrs Noble was heavily involved in the game’s administration and was a three-time president of the Edge Hill club.
She also was junior and senior vice-president, president and patron of the Cairns District Ladies Bowls Association.
Edge Hill president Pat Elliott said Mrs Noble was due to be honoured with life membership of the club in July.
"We’ll be asking John and the family to attend the annual meeting so we can award it to them," she said.
"Her death came as a great shock. She was well liked and respected and achieved a lot for women’s bowls."
Mrs Noble’s bowls hat and medals stood on her coffin yesterday and 30 women bowlers formed a guard of honour.
She is survived by her husband John, daughter Ann and son Greg and their families.
