Family pay tribute to Galashiels couple David and Sandra McLeod who died within hours of each other

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Grandad David McLeod, 78, from Galashiels, Scottish Borders went missing on Thursday, December 16 and his body was found on Sunday.

His wife Sandra, 79, died after a long battle with brain cancer at 12.55am on Friday, December 17 - just hours after her husband of 63 years disappeared.

Their devastated family said David's watch, returned to the them by the police, had stopped at 12.55am - the exact time his wife died.

Retired construction worker David, who was diagnosed with dementia in August, went out to buy a newspaper around 8pm but never returned home.

His body was found on Sunday, December 19, in the countryside around Cauldshiels Loch - about a three-mile walk from his home.

The couple's heartbroken family said it looked like they had died around the same time.

The pair, who had three children, 16 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren were known to say 'if one died first the other would meet them on the way'.

A statement from the family said: "The McLeod family far and wide would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for sharing our dad's and grandad's information and photo also a huge thank you to the public and all professional services who were keeping an eye out for grandad.

"More importantly the gentleman who found grandad and enabled us to bring him home.

"It looks like he died around about the same time as 'the wife' as he called her on the first night missing.

"Dave and Sandra will be sorely missed by all family and friends.

"As anyone who knew them knew they loved nothing more than to have a house full of family around them.

"They were together through life for 63 years and will now continue their journey together in death.

"They used to say if one died first the other would meet them on the way.

"Sandra, Mary, David, Kelly, Marion and the rest of the family."

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