On December 22, 2015, after a lengthy battle with cancer, Thomas John Gormley, known to his friends as Tom, passed away as he had lived, peacefully, with dignity, and secure in his faith in God.

Tom’s priorities in life were his family, his Church, and his small farm at Doogary, Irvinestown, where he was born on January 7, 1929, and had lived his entire life. As the second son, Tom did not expect to inherit the farm, but his older brother Robert decided on a career in Banking, and Tom took over the farm.

The brothers, only children of Thomas and Mary Jane Gormley were educated at Feglish National School and Portora Royal School.
On leaving Portora, Tom began working in the office of Irvinestown Creamery. Soon the Chief Education Officer for Fermanagh (the late Mr. James Malone, who had taught him in Portora) recruited him to join his office as an architectural technician under the late Mr. Harry Jones.

It was while travelling to work that Tom often gave a lift to his future wife Margaret Gray. Tom and Margaret married in September 1962, and went on to have a family of five.

Tom served on the Vestry of Derryvullen North Parish Church for 50 years, 40 of which were spent as Parish Treasurer.

During this time he moved from the Education Board in Enniskillen to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in Omagh, where he worked until his retirement in 1990.

Tom then devoted his time to his beloved family and the farm. After Margaret retired in 1991 the couple were rarely apart, enjoying their shared loved of gardening, and time spent with their children and grandchildren.

Tom was predeceased by his brother Robert and his elder son John.
He is survived by his wife Margaret, son Richard (Nicky), daughters Eileen (David), Caroline (Robert), and Barbara (Ian), and his 10 grandchildren Niall (Louise), Lauren, Graham, Rachel, Hannah, Ethan, Jake, Adam, Megan and Robyn.

His widely attended Thanksgiving Service was held in Derryvullen North Parish Church on Christmas Eve. It was conducted by Archdeacon Pringle, with the Eulogy by Dean Raymond Thompson. The hymns were “For the Beauty of the Earth,” “O Love that wilt not let me go,” and “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

The Readings were Isaiah 55, 6-13 read by his son Richard, Psalm 46 by his granddaughter Lauren, and The Seekers (John Masefield) read by his daughter Eileen.

Tom had organised his own Thanksgiving Service, and requested that “I’ll walk beside you” sung by John McCormack be played as his coffin was carried from the Church to his final resting place, in the family plot a few steps beyond the Church door.

The funeral arrangements were by Funeral Directors, S.R. Elliott and Sons, Darling Street, Enniskillen.
Tom’s wife Margaret and the family are deeply appreciative of all the support received at this time.