Miss Mary Hagan

THE death has taken place of Miss Mary Hagan at the age of 94, the oldest Shrigley-born woman. 

A resident of River Row in the old village, and Woodland Crescent in the new village, Mary could trace her family roots back to the time the village sprung up around the first linen mill in Shrigley.

She had an encyclopaedic memory of the life and times of the old mill village, including the old clock ringing out, leather handbag making, the first TV set and the first motor car. Her grandmother had worked as a cook at the `Big House’ in the village, owned by the Martin family who founded the village and owned the mill.

Mary was a devoted daughter who gave up her job in Killyleagh mill and sacrificed over 25 years of her life in caring for her mother when she went blind. 

She had an outstanding singing voice. She enjoyed life, having a laugh and singing a Patsy Cline hit or Connie Francis song on a Saturday night when she went out with her childhood sweetheart from their days on the River Row, Rollo McCormick.

The funeral took place under Coronavirus restrictions and in a tribute at the graveside at Killyleagh Presbyterian graveyard, the rector of St John’s Church of Ireland, the Rev Colin Darling, described her death as the end of an era.

He said Mary always had a smile on her face when he visited.

Mr Darling said she was a much loved aunt. Her kindness in making Christmas for her nephews and nieces in the extended family was legendary, and she continued her practice of sending Easter eggs and Christmas selection boxes well into the third generation.