A father-of-two died of leukaemia the very month he was due to have a bone marrow transplant.

John Gibson, 39, was due to get a life-saving donation from his sister Sue, but was too ill to have the operation.

The death of John, from Barmby Moor, near Pocklington, left his close-knit family devastated and a gaping void in the lives of his heartbroken wife Karen and his children, Robert, aged six, and Lauren, five.

Despite her loss, Karen today urged people to come forward to help other leukaemia sufferers.

She said: "It's so worthwhile and it's surprising how many people need these things. It's only a blood test.

"I know that when people give bone marrow, it's an overnight stay in hospital and it's a bit uncomfortable for a few days but you can save somebody's life.

"It would've been so lovely for Sue to do that for John."

Karen said: "I loved him so much. It's horrendous. His last words were that he loved me that sticks with me and always will."

She added: "John was such a lovely man, so caring, and he never had any malice towards anybody. He was not one for holding grudges and he always saw good in people.

"It seems so unfair. He had everything to live for."

Karen said that her husband loved Christmas and said she was so thankful that he woke from a long, deep sleep on Christmas Day morning in York District Hospital.

It allowed him to spend Christmas Day and Boxing Day with his wife and children before he died on December 29.

Karen said: "The doctors and nurses on Ward 35 at York District Hospital were all absolutely marvellous. I cannot praise them enough."

John was only diagnosed with leukaemia in May of last year after having a problem with a stiff knee, which turned out to be the first sign of the illness.

"It was such a shock," said Karen. "He was never an ill person. I've known him for 27 years and he was never one for being ill with anything."

John was born in Pocklington and lived in the area all his life.

He worked for McKechnie Plastic Components, in Stamford Bridge, for 21 years before working as an engineer with the Chemistry Department at York University.

John loved golf and was a keen footballer, being treasurer of Barmby Moor Football Club, and a fan of Arsenal and Hull City.

"He loved life," said Karen. "It has been such a tragic loss for us. He had got a job he liked, a lovely family and had everything going for him."

John's funeral service took place at St Catherine's Church, in Barmby Moor.

Updated: 08:43 Thursday, January 11, 2001