Former Gore mayor Mary Ogg died at the hospital on Thursday night, aged 77.
Mrs Ogg had not been in good health since a fall about a year ago.
Her husband David said his wife had been very active in the cause to have a new hospital built after the then Southland District Health Board decided to close Gore’s Seddon Memorial Hospital in 1999.
"She fought the good fight and got the hospital. If there wasn’t a hospital here in Gore, there wouldn’t be a Gore," Mr Ogg said.
She was not always easy to get along with, he said.
"She had the eye of an eagle, the tongue that could open up a can of beans at 20 paces.
"In different articles they said that she was combative and confrontational."
She was also honest, had integrity and was a woman of action.
Mrs Ogg was mayor of Gore from 1995 to 2001.
One day someone rang her up and complained their rubbish had not been picked up, and asked what the mayor was going to do about it.
Mrs Ogg asked for the resident’s address.
"She hopped in her little car, drove around there, opened the boot, threw the bag in and took it to the dump," Mr Ogg said.
One night when the couple were heading home, they saw police struggling to break up a brawl in the centre parks that were once in the middle of Gore’s Main St.
It was about the time Mrs Ogg stood for mayor, and after watching for about half an hour, she decided something needed to be done.
After she was elected mayor, the centre parks were removed.
She also served on the Southland District Health Board.
In 2002 she received the Queen's Service Order.
Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks said while he and Mrs Ogg had not always seen eye to eye, she had served her community well.
"I respect anybody that can dedicate that length of service and that degree of service to any community."
A service to celebrate Mrs Ogg’s life will be held at the Gore and Districts Memorial RSA on Tuesday at 1pm.
By Sandy Eggleston
