The young woman who died while keeping fit at a local gym, Lindsey Coulter, has been described by her family as someone who made her parents laugh and cry and who shared a passion for country music and jiving with her fiancé, Brian Ellison.

Now plans for their wonderful wedding in October have been shattered after Lindsey’s unexpected death. She was just 27.

Her death has been difficult to comprehend by her family; her parents, Maurice and Heather from Murley Road, Fivemiletown and sister, Alison and friends because of her bubbly and outgoing personality. The communities of Fivemiletown, Brookeborough, Tempo and Clabby in particular have been deeply affected as Lindsey knew so many people through her caring work.

Lindsey’s only sister, Alison, who is two years older, described her as someone to whom she was very close.

“She was never cross and was always in good humour. She just lit up the room. All she ever wanted was Brian.”

Lindsey became engaged to Brian Ellison last April and they had completed all their plans for their wedding in October this year, with a reception at the Kilmore Hotel, Cavan.

“Her death is such a shock. She was just 27 and her life was all ahead of her.”

“Both Lindsey and Brian loved country music and jiving, often going to the Ryandale at Moy, the Mellon Country Inn or the Valley Hotel nearer home, following all the stars but particularly, Mike Denver. They both danced to Mike Denver’s hit ‘Oklahoma’ in their home before she went to the gym and had planned to be home to watch Emmerdale,” said Alison, adding that Lindsey never returned from her workout at the gym at Colebrooke.

“Her mum and dad and us are devastated. Lindsey was the devilish of the two of us and she made them laugh and cry,” said Alison.

Alison explained how Lindsey was chief bridesmaid to her a number of years ago and then when her daughter, Lucy and son Jack were born, she was their babysitter as well. Alison says she will not be able to return her favour as chief bridesmaid at Lindsey’s wedding in October.

“Lindsey had a number of happy years with her fiancé, Brian at their home at Fivemiletown where they where very happy. Brian popped the question on his birthday, April 11 last year and it was a big yes,” said Alison who said they had known each other on the school bus from many years ago.

Lindsey spent all her education in the Fivemiletown area, firstly attending Nippers Nest Nursery followed by Fivemiletown Primary School and Fivemiletown High School.

Lindsey had many interests, beginning a cookery course in Fermanagh College, then working in the Clogher Valley Golf Club and the Lough Erne Golf Resort as a chef. But her main interest was caring for people and after a spell at a nursing home at Lisnaskea, she trained for a role with Enable Care Services, from Aughnacloy spending time in Tempo community.

Caring for people was her priority so a job in the Southern Area Health Trust appealed to her and she has been looking after people in the Fivemiletown, Tempo and Clabby areas.

Alison said Lindsey was the life and soul of their family and friends.

“She was always making us laugh, always smiling. She will be so missed by us all. We have been blessed to know her and she’ll be in our hearts forever.”

Lindsey’s funeral took place on Tuesday following a service in St. John’s Parish Church, Fivemiletown. The burial took place in the adjoining churchyard. Donations in lieu of flowers were being given to the British Heart Foundation and St. John’s Parish Church.