A well-known and highly regarded member of the Clogher Valley community, Shirley Fannin, late of Main Street, Clogher, passed away in South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen, on June 19, 2015.

Her peaceful passing, at the age of 62 years, followed a short illness.

A daughter of Mrs. Martha Fannin and the late Albert Fannin, Shirley was the eldest in a family of three. She leaves her sister Heather and brother William.

She was educated at Clogher Regional Primary School, followed by Omagh Academy, and then Fivemiletown High School, where she did her A Levels.

Shirley subsequently joined the Ulster Bank and she spent a major part of her career there until the 1990s.

Following her father’s death, she joined her brother William in the family business, Fannin’s Filling Station and Garage, on Main Street, Clogher, where she became retail manager. She continued to work there until she became ill last summer.

She enjoyed pursuing many interests and was very actively involved in St. Macartan’s Cathedral Church, Clogher. She was on the Select Vestry for many years and she held office as Honorary Treasurer.

In the past, she was a Sunday School teacher for over 30 years. She co-founded the Cathedral’s Girls’ Friendly Society (GFS) branch with the late Mrs. Sharpe.

Shirley was very interested in charity work and she supported a child through the Fields of Life organisation, and she organised many fundraisers for different causes, mainly associated with the church.

She was a former member of the Young Farmers’ Club in Clogher and the St. John Ambulance.

Shirley loved flowers and held a great interest in floral art; she would have participated in the floral arrangement sections of Clogher Valley Show.

In recent years she achieved NAFAS Certificates in Floral Art and Design.

Her funeral service, which attracted a huge attendance, reflecting the high esteem in which Shirley was held, took place at St. Macartan’s Cathedral, Clogher. It was conducted by Precentor Noel Regan, assisted by Dean Raymond Thompson, a former Clogher Cathedral minister, and Pastoral Care Assistant Mr. Walter Pringle.

Hymns included Shirley’s favourites: Father I Place Into Your Hands, The Lord’s My Shepherd and How Deep The Father’s Love For Us. The Psalms were read by Shirley’s goddaughter, Sarah Fannin, and Jack Watson, a personal friend and former work colleague. As a tribute, a section of Murley Silver Band played before the service began.

Burial took place at the New Cemetery at Clogher Cathedral.

Shirley’s funeral, which followed her widely attended removal, included a large representation of former bank colleagues and from the community.

Shirley is survived by her mother, Martha, her sister Heather, her brother William and by her sister-in-law Sharon. She leaves three nieces (whom she was devoted to) Sarah, Rachel and Ruth, the wider family circle and her friends. She was predeceased by her father Albert 24 years ago.

The funeral arrangements were by S.R. Elliott and Sons, Darling Street, Enniskillen.