Mrs. Mary Evelyn Johnston (Evelyn) passed away peacefully at the South West Acute Hospital on Tuesday, May 12, aged 79 years. Evelyn was born on December 30, 1935, at Clonatrig, Bellanaleck, near Inishmore Island by the shores of Lough Erne, where her father farmed. She was the only daughter of the late Richard and Mabel Keys. She has a twin brother George and three other brothers, Robert, Gerald and Edwin. She went to school at Lisgoole. One of the things she was taught there was the importance of writing as an art-form and she was able to continue with it for the rest of her life. Her hand-writing displayed a unique style which is increasingly hard to find. While living at Clonatrig, she went to Cleenish Parish Church where she received music lessons from Mrs. Rodgers in the Rectory. This foundation in music was to stay with her for the rest of her life and she was always grateful to Mrs. Rodgers for taking an interest in her. While at Clonatrig, she would travel to Enniskillen by bicycle to work at Taylor-Woods clothing factory. Around this time she met her future husband, Robert Johnston, who came from Gola Abbey, near Carrybridge. They married in November 1959 and moved in to the new bungalow that Robert built at Killyvannan, Tamlaght. It was here that they would live and farm for the rest of their lives, until Robert died in 2004. Evelyn was a devoted wife to Robert and became a wonderful mother to David, Basil, Heather and Andrea. She dedicated her life to her family and no sacrifice was too great for them. Over the years her family grew to include sons-in-law: Kevin and Sam, daughter-in-law, Tracey and grandchildren: Erin, Euan, Holly and Ruby. She took great pride in her grandchildren and was a constant source of support, encouragement and above all else, love. She loved with an open heart and there was always an abundance of love to give. She was very fortunate to know that love reciprocated. In addition to family life, she made time for two lifelong passions: The first was her love of music. Evelyn started playing in Derryvullan Church in 1975 when Miss Howell retired as organist after 50 years. At set times of the year, such as harvest or Easter, additional choir practices were needed. Evelyn was not afraid to tackle new hymns or pieces and always picked hymns to suit the Church calendar. She loved playing the organ at home where hymns and chants were rehearsed until perfect. She enjoyed teaching Holly the basics of the keyboard. Evelyn also played at Garvary and Derrybrusk Parish Churches and Cleenish (before she was married). She also played for many funerals and weddings. All knew the sheer joy that her organ playing gave to her and to those listening. Her other great pleasure was cooking and baking. The kitchen was always the heart of the home, as long as she was there, everyone who visited was made welcome with endless cups of tea and homemade cakes. Evelyn also worked as chief cook at The Bellanaleck Lakeland Nursing Home during the 1980s. Her other pleasures were the simpler things in life, such as, spending time in the garden and helping to transform it into a beautiful oasis of colour to be admired by all. She always took time to admire and appreciate beauty in nature and loved the changing of the seasons, the spring time when the daffodils appeared and new life was all around, the changing colours of Autumn, the frost on the ground in the winter time, the berries on the trees and the appearance of the robin. She loved seeing all the birds in the garden. She loved the holly tree and this love is remembered in her choosing the name of her third grandchild. Most of all she loved the company of others. Being surrounded by her family and friends undoubtedly gave her the greatest satisfaction. Evelyn had a great sense of humour and was always fun to be with. Evelyn also met a lot of visitors as she ran two guest houses over a period from 1975 right up to her taking the stroke. Evelyn enjoyed being a member of Tamlaght Women’s Institute and the Mothers’ Union for many years. Evelyn diligently cared for Robert in his later years of failing health. She remained active until she had a couple of minor strokes and then in November 2012, her life was devastated when she suffered a massive stroke. After five months in the hospital, she returned home in a wheelchair, semi-paralysed. She accepted her condition with courage, dignity and optimism drawing on her Christian faith, as she had done all her life. Her core values and beliefs were always underpinned by her Christian faith and even in her dying days she showed that she knew the power of prayer by asking for prayer and she gathered strength from knowing that people were praying for her. She also sought comfort from the verses of a great many hymns, which gave her the strength to carry on. The family would like to thank everyone who has cared for Evelyn in the past two years, especially the carers from Enable Care, whose hard work and dedication, allowed her to continue living at home. The funeral service was held on Friday, May 15, at Derryvullan South Parish Church at Tamlaght and was conducted by the Rev. Chancellor Stewart. The hymns were What A Friend We Have In Jesus, There Is A Green Hill Far Away, and Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven. The organist was Mrs. Peela Gamble. Evelyn is survived by son David and wife Tracey, England, son Basil at Killyvannan, daughter Heather and husband Kevin, England, daughter Andrea and husband Sam at Carrybridge and grandchildren Erin, Euan, Holly and Ruby. The funeral arrangements were by Austen Stinson of W.T. Morrison, Darling Street, Enniskillen with donations in lieu of flowers going to Derryvullan Church.

Mrs. Mary Evelyn Johnston (Evelyn) passed away peacefully at the South West Acute Hospital on Tuesday, May 12, aged 79 years. Evelyn was born on December 30, 1935, at Clonatrig, Bellanaleck, near Inishmore Island by the shores of Lough Erne, where her father farmed. She was the only daughter of the late Richard and Mabel Keys. She has a twin brother George and three other brothers, Robert, Gerald and Edwin. She went to school at Lisgoole. One of the things she was taught there was the importance of writing as an art-form and she was able to continue with it for the rest of her life. Her hand-writing displayed a unique style which is increasingly hard to find. While living at Clonatrig, she went to Cleenish Parish Church where she received music lessons from Mrs. Rodgers in the Rectory. This foundation in music was to stay with her for the rest of her life and she was always grateful to Mrs. Rodgers for taking an interest in her. While at Clonatrig, she would travel to Enniskillen by bicycle to work at Taylor-Woods clothing factory. Around this time she met her future husband, Robert Johnston, who came from Gola Abbey, near Carrybridge. They married in November 1959 and moved in to the new bungalow that Robert built at Killyvannan, Tamlaght. It was here that they would live and farm for the rest of their lives, until Robert died in 2004. Evelyn was a devoted wife to Robert and became a wonderful mother to David, Basil, Heather and Andrea. She dedicated her life to her family and no sacrifice was too great for them. Over the years her family grew to include sons-in-law: Kevin and Sam, daughter-in-law, Tracey and grandchildren: Erin, Euan, Holly and Ruby. She took great pride in her grandchildren and was a constant source of support, encouragement and above all else, love. She loved with an open heart and there was always an abundance of love to give. She was very fortunate to know that love reciprocated. In addition to family life, she made time for two lifelong passions: The first was her love of music. Evelyn started playing in Derryvullan Church in 1975 when Miss Howell retired as organist after 50 years. At set times of the year, such as harvest or Easter, additional choir practices were needed. Evelyn was not afraid to tackle new hymns or pieces and always picked hymns to suit the Church calendar. She loved playing the organ at home where hymns and chants were rehearsed until perfect. She enjoyed teaching Holly the basics of the keyboard. Evelyn also played at Garvary and Derrybrusk Parish Churches and Cleenish (before she was married). She also played for many funerals and weddings. All knew the sheer joy that her organ playing gave to her and to those listening. Her other great pleasure was cooking and baking. The kitchen was always the heart of the home, as long as she was there, everyone who visited was made welcome with endless cups of tea and homemade cakes. Evelyn also worked as chief cook at The Bellanaleck Lakeland Nursing Home during the 1980s. Her other pleasures were the simpler things in life, such as, spending time in the garden and helping to transform it into a beautiful oasis of colour to be admired by all. She always took time to admire and appreciate beauty in nature and loved the changing of the seasons, the spring time when the daffodils appeared and new life was all around, the changing colours of Autumn, the frost on the ground in the winter time, the berries on the trees and the appearance of the robin. She loved seeing all the birds in the garden. She loved the holly tree and this love is remembered in her choosing the name of her third grandchild. Most of all she loved the company of others. Being surrounded by her family and friends undoubtedly gave her the greatest satisfaction. Evelyn had a great sense of humour and was always fun to be with. Evelyn also met a lot of visitors as she ran two guest houses over a period from 1975 right up to her taking the stroke. Evelyn enjoyed being a member of Tamlaght Women’s Institute and the Mothers’ Union for many years. Evelyn diligently cared for Robert in his later years of failing health. She remained active until she had a couple of minor strokes and then in November 2012, her life was devastated when she suffered a massive stroke. After five months in the hospital, she returned home in a wheelchair, semi-paralysed. She accepted her condition with courage, dignity and optimism drawing on her Christian faith, as she had done all her life. Her core values and beliefs were always underpinned by her Christian faith and even in her dying days she showed that she knew the power of prayer by asking for prayer and she gathered strength from knowing that people were praying for her. She also sought comfort from the verses of a great many hymns, which gave her the strength to carry on. The family would like to thank everyone who has cared for Evelyn in the past two years, especially the carers from Enable Care, whose hard work and dedication, allowed her to continue living at home. The funeral service was held on Friday, May 15, at Derryvullan South Parish Church at Tamlaght and was conducted by the Rev. Chancellor Stewart. The hymns were What A Friend We Have In Jesus, There Is A Green Hill Far Away, and Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven. The organist was Mrs. Peela Gamble. Evelyn is survived by son David and wife Tracey, England, son Basil at Killyvannan, daughter Heather and husband Kevin, England, daughter Andrea and husband Sam at Carrybridge and grandchildren Erin, Euan, Holly and Ruby. The funeral arrangements were by Austen Stinson of W.T. Morrison, Darling Street, Enniskillen with donations in lieu of flowers going to Derryvullan Church.