Willie was born at Mullinacoagh, Aghalane on 9 November, 1932. He was the eldest son of the late James and Kate Moran.

    He attended Crom School, Corlatt, until its closure. He then attended the Earl of Erne School, Teemore. During school holidays he worked in Crom Castle as under butler to the Erne family. On leaving school he started working in the garden, eventually becoming head gardener, taking great pleasure competing with the late Duchess of Westminster, and won the Lisgoole Cup several times for his show of apples in the Enniskillen Show.

    He married his wife, formerly May Bryans, in 1959 and they made their home in the gardener’s house and had two children, Liane and Brian.

    Willie was a faithful member of the Holy Trinity Church, Crom, where he was sexton for some years until the family moved to Jubilee Hill in 1967. He then became a faithful member of St. Michael’s Church, Trory, until his death. He was also a member of the Loyal Orange Order for over 50 years joining Crom L.O.L. and then Trory L.O.L. 647, and later joining Killadeas R.B.P. 1239.

    Willie was a member of the security forces for most of his life, joining the U.S.C. for 20 years and the Ulster Defence Regiment until he retired in 1990 due to ill health.

    His great interests in life were his family, garden and acting as treasurer for the Unionist Association in Enniskillen.

    His funeral service took place on September 6, 2003, conducted by Chancellor Victor McKeon and assisted by Miss Marie McCordick. The burial took place in the adjoining graveyard.

    The hymns during the service were: “Safe in the arms of Jesus”, “Stand up, stand up for Jesus” and “The day thou gavest Lord has ended”. The organist was Mrs. Barbara Somerville who ended the service by playing and singing the Nunc Dimittis.

    Willie is survived by his wife May, daughter Liane, son-in-law Raymond; son Brian, daughter-in-law Rae, grandchildren: Wendy, David, Gary and Paul; brother Cecil (Belturbet) and sisters: Nan (Groomsport) and Edna (Maguiresbridge).