Mr Cyril Crozier passed away peacefully on 21st of January this year, following several years of declining health. Cyril was the eldest son of Frank Crozier and Helen Swanson, from Ederney, where Cyril’s father had a business. He died when Cyril was six years old and the family then moved to a farm at Killyvilly, where Cyril lived and worked for the rest of his life. He was educated at Portora (now ERGS) during the war years.

After leaving school Cyril took over responsibility for the farm. He retained a lifelong passion for horticulture and until the last weeks of his life continued to take an interest in vegetable gardening, even though his failing health prevented him from carrying out the practical work. Cyril was an advocate of organic growing methods and soil improvement before these ideas became mainstream. He had an interest in preserving old customs and for a short period ploughed with horses, and experimented with butter-making. Woodwork was another activity he enjoyed.

In 1953 he married Eileen Coalter, a nurse, who originated from Brookeborough - and they had six children: Helen, David, Kenneth, Sheena, Linda and Anita. It was a great sadness to Cyril and Eileen when their daughter Sheena died at the age of four from a heart condition, but their strong Christian faith sustained them through bereavement. Cyril and Eileen were lifelong members of Enniskillen Methodist Church in Darling Street. Cyril taught Sunday School for many years, eventually becoming Superintendent, and he also ran a popular weekly Bible Study group.

Cyril’s faith defined him, from the age of eighteen, following a mission held by the evangelist W P Nicholson. His relationship with God was the bedrock of his life and he spent much of his spare time in Bible study, becoming a gifted teacher in the process. Throughout his life he led Bible Study groups and preached in many churches on the Methodist circuit around Fermanagh. He explained Christian doctrines in a fresh and memorable way, and the insights he shared made a lasting impression on his audience. He and Eileen supported the Faith Mission generously throughout their life together.

Cyril was an active man, interested in weight lifting and strength training in his younger days - and he was a keen amateur rugby player. For some years he was a sergeant in B Coy of the (then)UDR, and carried out his role with diligence and professionalism. He was well-respected as a patrol leader and for his work in the Intelligence Cell - and he was also invited on a regular basis to preach at parade services. Cyril had cherished the dream of an army career in his youth, but family circumstances prevented this from happening, so he really enjoyed the training and experience during his time in the Regiment.

Eileen was his constant companion and support for sixty years and her death in 2013 came as a very painful blow, at a time when he was facing his own health problems. Cyril’s faith remained steady and he carried on with daily routines, determined to lead an independent life for as long as possible. He was supported by each member of the family when his health began to deteriorate, and passed away at home, just as he had wished.

Cyril leaves behind his five children, and seven grandchildren: Mark, Jamie, Aaron, Callum, Joel, Ben, Shane and Becky, and two great grandchildren Thea and Henry. He is also survived by his younger brother Freddie and sister Muriel. The service of celebration and committal was conducted at St Ronan’s Church, Colebrooke (kindly granted) where Eileen and Sheena are also buried. Funeral arrangements were by Austen Stinson and donations in lieu of flowers may be given to the Faith Mission, via W T Morrison of Darling Street, Enniskillen.