A well-known and highly regarded member of the Irvinestown community, Mary Elizabeth McGregor, late of Forthill Park, passed away on June 28, 2014, aged 72 years. Her death occurred peacefully, after a long illness, in Millcroft Private Nursing Home, Enniskillen.

Mary was born on May 15, 1942, a daughter of Deborah (Dolly) and Robbie McGregor (both deceased). She was born in Bangor and raised in Pettigo and Irvinestown - having moved with her brother Eugene to live with their grandparents - the Moores. Mary attended Gortnessy School, Pettigo and Victoria Primary School, Irvinestown and then Kesh Intermediate School.

She worked in the Isle of Man for a time before returning to Northern Ireland, where she worked in a factory in Cookstown. She took up employment in a hotel in Loch Lomond in Scotland and on her return to Irvinestown, she worked in the STC (Standard Telephones Communications) factory in Enniskillen. She continued to work there until her family moved from Irvinestown to Cookstown.

In July 1968, she was living in Cookstown when her daughter Elizabeth was born. Mary returned to Irvinestown in the early seventies and subsequent employment in the town included Annie Woods’ cafe and she worked in McCartney’s as a housekeeper. For a number of years, she had enjoyed working in the kitchen at Fermanagh New Horizons.

Among Mary’s interests was reading and she loved to read The Impartial Reporter, being a great fan of the newspaper. She took a great interest in news and current affairs.

She liked to meet her friends and enjoyed having coffee with them on a regular basis. A very sociable figure, she enjoyed engaging in conversation and she liked to meet new people. Her weekly hairdressing appointments were also a source of great pleasure to her.

Home and family were of great importance to Mary, who was very close to her daughter Elizabeth and she was devoted to her granddaughter Deborah, who is studying Nursing at Queen’s University Belfast and she was extremely proud of her. She was also devoted to her brother Eugene. Her funeral service held at Irvinestown Methodist Church, followed by burial at Sydare Cemetery, was led by the Rev. Eleanor Hayden, who regularly visited Mary at home, in hospital and at The Millcroft, which was greatly appreciated. Her Methodist faith was very important to Mary.

Surviving her are her daughter Elizabeth Taggart, Irvinestown, and her granddaughter Deborah. She also leaves her brother Eugene and sister-in-law Margaret and family, Cookstown, and the wider family circle.

The Funeral Directors, S.R. Elliott and Sons, Darling Street, Enniskillen, who looked after the funeral arrangements, are acknowledged by the family, who are also deeply appreciative of the great support received from all.