Obituaries 01-10-11

It is with deep regret that we record the passing of Mr Edward (Eddie) Carry, Drumgill, Drumconrath, in his 81st year, peacefully at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, surrounded by his loving family on 20th August. Mr Carry was the fifth eldest in a family of eleven that originated in Rathlagan, Drumconrath, two of whom died in infancy, Brendan and Christina. He was pre-deceased by his youngest brother Brian in May 2010. He moved to Drumgill when he was very young and attended the local national school. He spent much of his youth as a farm labourer with Tom Carry (of the same locality but no relation). In the mid 1950s, he met Maureen Moore and they married in August 1957 in St Peter & Pauls Church, Drumconrath. Eddie and Maureen had a family of five children and raised them in Drumconrath, all of whom live nearby. Deceased had a keen interest in sport especially GAA and was secretary of the local Gaelic club, United Gaels. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mr Carry was a referee for local GAA club games. He attended many Gaelic matches locally and in the hallowed ground of Croke Park. A lover of the land and nature, Mr Carry spent many years cutting turf the "old way", first with his own children and then with his grandchildren. In the 1970s, he grew willows on his own land and in 1978 David Shaw-Smith from RTE made a film of him harvesting the 'sallies' which he sent to a basket maker in Carrick-on-Suir, Joe Shanahan. A keen whist player, he was well known in card playing circles. Both himself and Maureen played about four times a week. It was his favourite pastime. This brought him to Darver, Philipstown, Tallanstown and Kingscourt weekly. Mr Carry also had an ear for music, two of his favourite songs were 'The Turfman from Ardee' and 'The Old Bog Road'. He loved the music of the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. Eddie and Maureen Carry celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in August 2007, surrounded by all the family and a large circle of friends. They were 54 years married the week before he passed away. Deceased is survived by his wife Maureen; family, Mary, Joan, Helen, Ciaran and Irene; brother Al Carry (Weymouth, England); sister Madge Thornton, (Hackballscross, Dundalk); four sons-in-law; Alan, Ken, Mickey and Martin,; daughter-in-law Mary, 14 grandchildren and one great grandchild. A glowing tribute to his standing in the community was displayed at one of the biggest funerals in recent years which included a guard of honour from Drumconrath GFC. The funeral Mass was concelebrated by Fr Finian Connaughton, Fr Dermot Maloney, Fr Sean Martin, Jonesborough, and Fr Seamus Houlihan, Nobber, and was followed by burial in Drumconrath cemetery. ____________________________________________________________ James Smith, Oldcastle Mr James Smith, Millbrook, Oldcastle, who died at his home on 14th September last, was aged 62. A native of Oldcastle, he worked as a carpenter during his lifetime. He was also a member of the Oldcastle Tidy Towns Committee. He is survived by his wife Goretti Smith, Oldcastle; daughter Gail Smith and son James, both Oldcastle; daughter-in-law Susan Smith; grandchildren Lauren and Alex Smith, Oldcastle. The funeral Mass was celebrated at St Bridget's Church, Oldcastle and the funeral took place to Oldcastle Cemetery. ____________________________________________________________ Noel McKeon, Trim Mr Noel McKeon, Sarsfield Avenue, Trim, who died at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan on 6th September last, was for over 40 years an employee of the Trimproof Ltd factory in Trim. During his lifetime, he provided his wife Marge and nine children with all of life's essentials but most of all a happy, secure and loving home. Mr McKeon was a very keen sports follower with a big love for the GAA and was very proud to be a member of the 1962 Trim senior football team, the team which won the last championship for Trim. During his working life, deceased loved to take his family on outings to the seaside, but also enjoyed long walks or a spot of fishing. In later years, he enjoyed nothing better than sitting and relaxing in his garden, reminiscing about old times. Mr McKeon is survived by his wife Marge; daughters Maria McKeon, Gloria Phelan, Anne Farrelly, Jennifer McCann, Carol McKeon, Rosemary McKeon, Patricia McKeon, all Trim, Clodagh Hill, Navan; son Andrew, Trim; brothers Tommy and Michael; sisters Joan and Louise; grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. The remains were removed to St Patrick's Church, Trim for the funeral Mass on 14th September. The interment took place at St Loman's Cemetery,Trim. ____________________________________________________________ Alan Joshua Elliott, Navan Alan Joshua Elliott was born in the family home at Flower Hill, Navan on 23rd December 23rd 1922, eldest son and one of six children of Joshua and Edith Elliott. Following education at Flower Hill National School and Preston School in the town, he joined his father Joshua in the family business at Blackwater Sawmill, a thriving concern and one of the largest employers in the area. Alongside the sawmill was a foundry which produced the well-known 'Boyne Valley' brand of garden implements and other hardware items. Mr Elliott took a keen interest in community affairs and although he was disinclined to follow his father's footsteps into local politics and become chairman of the urban council, he became a scout leader, and may well hold the record in the Church of Ireland as the longest serving member of the Select Vestry in his local St Mary's Parish Church - from the minimum age of admittance at 18 years until his death. The family had by then moved from Flower Hill to Athlumney Lodge on the Boyne Road. Deceased had continued to manage the sawmill with his father, often going abroad to negotiate timber contracts and travelling the length and breadth of Ireland in the same pursuit. In 1952 he married Rosamond (nee Pigott), a native of Rodstown, Kells, whom he met at a dance in the Kings Hospital School which was then situated at Blackhall Place, just off Dublin's North Quays. They moved to a new bungalow, 'Rivermead', which Alan and a sole helper had built from the ground up. Supported by Rosamond, under Mr Elliott's guidance, the Blackwater sawmills adapted with the changing times, markets and technology, diversifying into other products before finally moving to Mullaghboy on the Athboy Road. They had three children, Keith, Derek and Gillian, all of whom attended Flower Hill School and afterwards King's Hospital. Alan's keen engineering skills rubbed off on his two sons - both of them becoming successful civil engineers, while Gillian joined the Civil Service. The Elliott family had moved house again by this time, following the purchase of their Kells Road home by the fledgling Tara Mines, and purchased a home on Boyne Road not far from Athlumney Lodge. They carried the name of their first home 'Rivermead', with them to their new abode. Throughout his life he was noted as a devout Christian gentleman of strong moral and ethical principles, a family man in the true sense of the word, and a much loved grandfather and great-grandfather. In his latter years both he and Rosamond travelled to visit friends and family in the USA and Hong Kong, and were keen campers both at home and in the UK and France. Mr Elliott's health had declined in recent years, and so it was that he died, in the presence of family and Navan Rector Revd Canon John Clarke, early on the morning of Thursday, 8th September at Our Lady's Hospital in the town. The capacity attendance at Alan's funeral Service in his beloved St Mary's Church on Sunday 11th September bore eloquent testimony to the esteem in which he and his family are held. Deceased is survived by his wife Rosamond, children Keith, Derek and Gillian, their spouses and families, and by his sisters Nellie (Maybury) , Joan (Verso) and brothers Stanley and Wilfrid. Interment took place immediately after the Service in the family plot at the adjoining churchyard.