A regional journalist who “made the world a better place” has died aged 65.

Tributes have been paid to Terry MacCallum, who worked on DC Thomson titles the People’s Journal and then The Courier for many years.

Terry, pictured, had most recently run the Craigie column at the Dundee-based Courier before cancer forced her to take early retirement.

She met her husband Ross when she was transferred to The Courier production team as a sub-editor in 1990, later confessing to him that she used to watch him as he arrived for work from the neighbouring Journal office.

Ross, to whom she had been married since 1992, told The Courier: “A few days before she died, Terry told me: ‘If this is my time, I go with a heart filled with love’.

“She was such a loving person and a lovely person. I feel so lucky and proud to have been able to call her my wife for nearly 33 years. She leaves a huge hole in our lives.

“She loved being Mrs Craigie and always went the extra mile with the readers, many of whom were older, often visiting them for long chats and cups of tea.”

Terry was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. The disease returned four years ago and the diagnosis was terminal.

Doctors discovered long rounds of chemotherapy treatment had damaged her heart. She died on 22 May.

Former Courier features editor Gillian Lord said: “She ran Craigie, one of The Courier’s most popular sections, with a gentle strength that characterised everything she did.

“The readers loved her, and we loved her. She was kind, generous and quietly funny, and she was also a friend. She made the world a better place, always.”

Courier journalist and former features editor Morag Lindsay added: “She was honestly very likely the nicest person I’ve ever known.

“Just the kindest, gentlest, calmest soul who never said a bad word about anyone.”

Terry is also survived by children Andrew, Katharine and James, and granddaughter Eva.