Mrs. Charlotte Evelyn Brown, of Rathlands, Irvinestown, passed away peacefully at the South West Acute Hospital on Friday, April 3, 2020, following a short illness.

Evelyn was born on November 6, 1925, at Seskinore, Omagh, the fifth of six children to David and Annie Moses. She was educated at McClintock Primary School, Seskinore and following her education, remained at home to help care for a number of ageing relatives who lived with them.

When she was 16, she attended a gospel mission in Seskinore conducted by the Faith Mission, where, being convinced of her lost condition, she trusted in Jesus as her Saviour. From then her relationship with God became the foundation of her life and so she loved to spend time in daily prayer and Bible reading.

In addition to her local church, she attended many conferences and conventions including those at Bundoran and Killadeas. At these she heard rich Bible teaching and developed a heart for wider gospel work at home and overseas.

On January 24, 1962, she married Irvine Brown of Scallen, Irvinestown and it was here Evelyn and Irvine raised their three children, Anne, Alison and William. Evelyn was a loving and dedicated wife and mother. She worked on the family farm alongside Irvine but her gifting was in homemaking and hospitality; she loved people and all felt warmly welcome.

She and her children spent many Sunday afternoons visiting the elderly or lonely. She played the piano and organ and used this talent to serve the Lord in church, mission hall and children’s meetings. She was keen that others would come to know Jesus as their Saviour too and witnessed to them inside and outside the home. Her children fondly remember her praying with and for them every night. Indeed, she had several lists of people for whom she prayed daily.

In their latter years, Evelyn and Irvine moved into Irvinestown where their daughter Anne cared for them. Evelyn’s three hobbies in these years were knitting, writing letters and reading. With more time now available, she took an increasing interest in missionary work, not only reading letters and praying for such but also by knitting squares for blankets for those living in poorer countries. She wrote to elderly people in care homes as well as to many others. She loved to receive a Christian biography as a gift.

When Irvine, who had been housebound for a number of years, passed away in 2007, Evelyn accompanied Anne to many meetings and loved the opportunity for interaction with people that this gave her. Right up to her homecall, she was faithful in attendance at her church. The UFM (United For Mission) prayer meeting in her home was always a special occasion for her. She also loved to visit family and friends and have them visit her. She had a ‘holiday’ with Alison and her family every year and boarded a flight for the first time ever, in 2014 to visit her son William and his family in England. She commented, with her customary wit, that the plane was just like the bus!

During her final moments she quoted Psalm 23, then Jesus, her Shepherd led her through the ‘valley of the shadow of death’ and she is now safely home in the ‘house of the LORD forever.’

The funeral, which was private due to Covid-19 restrictions, took place on Sunday, April 5, 2020 and was conducted by Rev. Raymond Moore who paid a tribute. Her son William and son in law Garry read the Scriptures and prayed. Burial took place at Sidaire Cemetery. Evelyn is immediately survived by her daughters Anne and Alison, son William, son in law Garry Tutty, daughter in law Rosalind, grandchildren Matthew, Esther (Ben), Daniel, Cherith, Joanna, Andrew and Jonathan and great grandson Reuben. She also leaves a sister, Mollie and the wider family circle.

The funeral arrangements were by S.R. Elliott, Enniskillen.