The death occurred, during December last, in the Erne hospital, following a short illness, of Eileen Dorothy Dawson who lived at Highlands, Lisnaskea. She was 89 and was the widow of the late Wesley Dawson, a well-known local businessman and founding partner of F.D.H. Stores, Lisnaskea.
The deceased was a daughter of James and Emily Bryson (nee Dowler) from Drumshanbo, County Leitrim where Mrs Bryson ran a business with her brother, Frank in the early 1900's. The family then moved to County Monaghan where Eileen's mother, Emily developed Bryson's drapery store in Clones.
It was in Clones that the deceased was educated, at the Methodist Church School and, later, at Wesley College, Dublin.
It was Eileen's ambition to become an architect but, at the age of 14, her secondary education was cut short when her father died in 1932. For a time, she worked in the family business in Clones and, later, she attended The Gregg Commercial College in Belfast. Afterwards, she worked in Good's drapery store in Sligo.
But, once again, family tragedy struck, and she was forced to return to Clones at the age of 22 due to the serious illness and subsequent death, at the age of 26, of her brother, Jim from kidney disease. His death went hard on her.
In August,1945, brighter times arrived when she and Wesley Dawson married and made their home in Lisnaskea where two sons were born, Malcolm and Jim. Mr Dawson, a businessman, together with his brother-in-law, William Farrell and cousin, Austin Hutchinson were founding partners of F.D.H. Stores in Lisnaskea.
It was early in her married life that Eileen became a committed Christian and that spiritual side of her life she attached great importance to. She was a faithful member of Lisnaskea Methodist Church and was well known in the Upper Erne Circuit, and in the wider community. She taught Sunday school for many years, and had many interests.
She was a prolific letter writer and communicated widely and, attended woodwork courses from which she made various artefacts. She was fond of literature and history, being a member for a time of Lisnaskea Historical Society.
For 11 happy years, she and her husband resided at Derryadd when he went into semi-retirement before his death in April, 1988.
Throughout her life, she had a particular fondness for the family's pet dogs, and loved the countryside. She enjoyed many happy family outings to Donegal. She was still driving until relatively recently and, in later years, she delighted in spending time with her family. She particularly enjoyed being grandmother to Louise, Mark and Sarah and, latterly, a great grandmother to Joshua. A second great grandchild, Amelie Martin was born in the month after she died.
The well-attended Thanksgiving service for her life took place in Brookeborough Methodist Church.
Mrs Dawson is survived by her sons, Jim and Malcolm, her daughter-in-law, Noreen, by her grandchildren, Louise, Mark and Sarah, and by her great grandchildren, Joshua and Amelie Martin.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Ronnie Moffatt of T. Moffatt & Sons, Lisnaskea.
