Mr Andrew Easterbrook, aged 89, was called home on 19th December. He was saved when he was 35 years of age, baptised, received into assembly fellowship in Newmilns, and later, for 45 years, in Galston. He loved to read and discuss the Scriptures and to be at all the gatherings of the Lord’s people. For several years he wrote to the bereaved of the locality, gave out tracts, and witnessed to many in the town. A kind, gentle brother, he liked to encourage both young and old along the Christian pathway. Prayer is requested for his two daughters, who are not saved.
Mr Alexander Graham, aged 63, called home suddenly on 20th October after a trying year. He was saved as a boy of 16 in Kilkeel where he was brought up, his father having died two months before he was born. He loved the Lord and his people and was found in meetings most nights. He had been in fellowship in Kilkeel, Ballyhay, and latterly Comber for the last 25 years. His last night on earth was with the Ballyhay assembly in their prayer meeting. There he read Psalm 61 and prayed for his family circle that they might be saved. The large funeral was from Ballykeel Gospel Hall. Prayer would be valued for his family circle and friends.
Dr Tom Hagan of Newry: on 24th August. Many friends throughout Ireland, and beyond, will have been saddened by the news of Dr Hagan’s passing, his wife Olive having predeceased him in 2004. Together they faithfully and unstintingly served the Lord’s people, first in Newry and latterly in Bangor. They were enthusiastic supporters of foreign missions and worked tirelessly for the upkeep of the N I Missionary Homes. Their own home was a place of continuous hospitality and joyful service. To those who knew him, Dr Hagan was a man of wide horizons and broad sympathies, and was known by many as “the poor man’s friend”. The large number who attended his thanksgiving service at Bethany Church, Belfast was indicative of the high regard in which both he and Mrs Hagan were held. Sharing in the proceedings were Mr John Carroll, Mr Reggie Jebb, Mr Mervyn Wishart and Mr Brooke Mullan. Prayer is requested for his daughter Lynn and sons John, David, and Stephen.
Mrs May Kyle, aged 85, called home on 26th December. Our sister was saved at the age of 12 years, her mother was a Christian and attended the Evangelistic Hall in Muirhead, where her three girls were baptised in 1939 – Cathie, Julia, and May. May remained there until 1945 having married Mr Tom Kyle, and then moved to Knightswood Gospel Hall, Glasgow, and ultimately to Shiloh Hall, Shettleston, Glasgow. Their son William was born in 1948, and in 1951 they moved to Stepps. In 1961 their daughter Myra was born and they moved to their present home in Moodiesburn and continued in Moorpark Gospel Hall from 1951-2009. Our dear sister loved the habitation of the Lord’s House, and was given to the hospitality of the Lord’s servants and all the saints. Please remember both William and Myra and their respective families in our prayers.
Miss Mary Moore, aged 89, called home on 3rd February after two weeks in hospital. The last two years of her life were spent in a nursing home in weakness, but she was mentally alert to the end. As a girl Mary always had a desire to be saved but it was not until she was 34 years of age that she settled the matter of her soul’s salvation at meetings held by the late William Bunting in 1955 in Ballyclare, Co. Antrim and got assurance through John 3.36. Later she was baptised and received into the fellowship of the assembly at Ballyclare where she was a member until her home-call. All her Christian life she had a interest in others, in the spread of the gospel, and in her Bible. Her brothers and sisters and their families along with the assembly are going to miss her. Funeral services were conducted by J Lennox and J Fleck, E Greer gave a tribute and D Glenn prayed.
Mrs Mary Rollie, aged 91, was called home on 3rd February, after a time of illness. She was saved as a girl of twelve, baptised, and received into fellowship in Hebron Hall, Larkhall. Moving to Ayrshire for work during the war, she met and married the late Bert Rollie and was associated with the assembly in New Cumnock for over 40 years. After Bert’s homecall, Mary moved to Bellshill, then to Kilmarnock. She was always faithful to the gatherings of the assembly and had an open home for the Lord’s people.
