FRED Mellor was well known to do-it-yourself fans in Huddersfield.
Mr Mellor, of Thurstonland, ran Mellor's DIY at Lindley for several decades.
He retired six years ago and his children, David, Brian and Nicola, ran the store for him.
But he loved his work so much he could not keep away until he finally sold the shop last year.
However, his retirement was short and he died on December 14, four days after his 76th birthday.
Mr Mellor suffered kidney and lung failure and spent two weeks in the intensive care unit of St James's Hospital, Leeds.
His funeral was at St Thomas's Church, Thurstonland, on December 23.
His widow, Brenda, described him as a fighter who had always worked hard.
Mr Mellor was born in Lockwood, the only son among five children.
He went to school in Lockwood before taking up an apprenticeship as a tinsmith for Tom Mallinson in Huddersfield town centre's Pack Horse Yard.
He later worked for various builders as a slater, until he fell off a roof at work in his early twenties.
He damaged his spine and had to take an office job at ICI.
He married Brenda in January, 1955.
He then went to work for a funeral suppliers firm in Shelley.
This job took him to work in Viaduct Street in Huddersfield and in Oakes.
When he was 40 he left the firm and, after a series of odd jobs, opened his own DIY store.
As well as having to deal with his spine injury, Mr Mellor battled various health problems.
He had his bladder removed when he was 49 and had a hip replacement three years ago, plus two kneecap replacements.
Mrs Mellor said: "Fred was a fighter. He didn't sit at home in a corner. He got on with his life."
Mr Mellor leaves Brenda, his three children and his grandchildren, Gemma, Bridget, Lily and Sam.
