SHE was a woman who lived life to the full.

And Patricia Battye was also a woman at her happiest when busy, either in her career or helping friends.

Mrs Battye, 76, died last month.

A funeral service was held at Christ Church, New Mill, on January 29.

Mrs Battye was known to many as one of the Examiner's advertisement sales representatives, working for 22 years in newspapers.

She started her career with the Holme Valley Express, one of the first women to do the difficult sales job.

Her early life was spent in her native Holmfirth. She was born at Wood Nook and went to the National School. She later went to the secondary school at Nabb before leaving to become a mender at Washpit Mills.

In 1947 she met tuner Gordon Battye and they married in 1951.

They moved to Stockton-on-Tees for a short time before returning to the Holme Valley, when Mrs Battye began her newspaper career.

She had a short spell at Whitfields furniture store in Ramsden Street, Huddersfield before joining the neighbouring Examiner, retiring in 1990 at the age of 59.

But her retirement saw her take on many other roles, including an escort with Examiner Travel, a shop assistant for a friend's business and as a sales representative for a housing company.

Mrs Battye was also a keen poet and artist.

She leaves a husband, Gordon, two children, David and Jane, and two grandchildren, David and Rebecca.