Sadness has been expressed throughout the community following the death of the Rev. Robert Henry (Harry) Scott recently.

Rev. Harry Scott from Ballymullagh, Lisnaskea passed away peacefully in the South West Acute Hospital on September 13, he had been in declining health for some time.

Harry was born on July 4, 1930 at Roscairn, Culkey, several miles outside of Enniskillen, the youngest of six children to Edward and Florence Scott.

Harry attended Jones Memorial Primary School and then moved to Portora.

On completion of his education, he worked as a substitute teacher, among other things, before settling into a job in the Education Office, Enniskillen where he spent a number of very happy years.

In February 1947, he was converted in a mission held by the well-known evangelist WP Nicholson. His future wife Evelyn was saved in the same mission.

After conversion, Harry became in Christian activity and outreach around the county and eventually felt led to go into full-time service.

This resulted in him going to England for a year to train with Message of Victory Evangelism (MOVE).

Following this, Harry sailed to Africa in 1959 to engage in missionary work. His fiancée followed him to England and Africa where they married in 1960.

Two years were spent in Nyasaland (Malawi) conducting evangelism and doing literature distibution before settling in N. Rhodesia (Zambia) where he continued this work for a number of years.

Feeling the need to return to Northern Ireland for his children's education, Harry did so in 1974 taking charge of his pioneer Independent Methodist churches in Manoo and Coolnamorrow. The Coolnamarrow work moved to Lisnaskea whereupon Harry became full time minister there, staying until retirement in 1998.

He enjoyed outreach and this led to him conducting a number of missions as well as reaching into Monaghan and Cavan where Harry established a monthly meeting at Doohat, Cootehill. He was also editor of his church magazines for many years.

Retirement meant reduced activity but Harry still had a passionate interest in the spiritual welfare of all he knew and met.

Gardening, his favourite hobby, helped to keep him active and mobile until almost his last days.

Harry was the last surviving member of his family, having been predeceased by brothers Albert, Carleton and George and sisters Ina and Sadie. He is survived by his wife Evelyn and children Paul, David and Louise.