Mrs. Lilian Elizabeth Mitchell, known as Lily, died at South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen on August 27, 2014, peacefully after a short illness.

Lily was born on August 24, 1935 at Tullycherry, near Pettigo, the youngest daughter of Wesley and Marion Bruce. Her father was the organist of Tullycherry Methodist Church for 50 years. Lily was educated at Boa Island School, Ballyshannon Technical School, and for her farming education went to North West Agricultural College, Strabane, where she studied dairy and poultry.

The Bruce family moved to Ballinamallard in the early 1950s to the Grove, Killymitten. They attended Ballinamallard Methodist Church, Lily being an active member of the Christian Endeavour Society. She had chosen the Christian pathway at a mission in Tullycherry conducted by Mr. W.T. McClintock assisted by George Vaugh and Cecil Woods.

She married Hylands Mitchell of Ballycassidy on December 1, 1962, in Ballinamallard Methodist Church. After a short honeymoon at Lily’s brother’s farm in Devon they returned to the small farm at Ballycassidy, where she brought up her five children, Bruce, Ruth, Claire, Philip and Wesley. She also looked after Hyland’s Uncle George and Auntie Margaret Pollock. George Pollock was the Advisory Officer in Fermanagh for the Ministry of Agriculture under W.T. McClintock, C.E.O. (County Executive Officer). George Pollock was involved in the changeover from hay to silage making, pioneering the technique of rapid filling of silos for better quality. While this was all happening Lily was working away supplementing the family income by keeping hens in another new idea, that of cages.

Lily attended the local Methodist Church at Laragh, where again she was spiritually refreshed at a mission conducted by Ronnie and Pat McCracken.

Ronnie reports there were only three at the mission that night but the message touched her heart and she recommitted herself to God.

The highlight of her year was helping out at Mr. McClintock’s annual Killadeas Holiness Camp meetings; this continued unabated until he died seven years ago. Now held in the Archdale Hall, her presence there every night this year was a great inspiration despite the onset of a very aggressive cancer.

Lily’s labour of love for the Lord also involved playing the organ for the monthly Soldiers of the Cross Mission, singing in a hospital choir, helping at the two annual bus trips from S.O.C. and visitation of homes.

Three weeks before she died, Lily was admitted into the S.W.A.H. under its wonderful care. Her husband says she faced death without a fear, choosing her funeral hymns as a true Soldier of the Cross, confessing to all who came by of her love and trust in Jesus her Saviour.

The funeral took place on August 30 after a short service in her home in which David Bennet of the Faith Mission took part. The funeral proceeded to Ballinamallard Methodist Church, where her husband led in prayer and gave a tribute. Her two sons read the Scriptures and her niece Violet sang “Standing Somewhere in the Shadows You’ll Find Jesus.” Mr. Edwin Coalter gave a tribute. The Minister preached on the certainty of our own funeral and the need to be “born again.” At the graveside in Sydare, the singing of the hymn “When the Trumpet of the Lord shall sound,” accompanied by Miss Julie Duffy of the Salvation Army on the trumpet, turned a day of sadness - her husband says - into a day of great victory for God.

The funeral arrangements were by Austen Stinson, W.T. Morrison, Funeral Directors, Enniskillen.