Bertie leaves a farming legacy

Banbridge man Robert Alexander McCracken, who passed away earlier this month.

Bertie, as he was affectionately known, was the dearly loved husband of Jean, father of David, father-in-law of Evette and granda of Kirsty and Jonathan.

Bertie was born at Ballievey in 1924 and lived there all his life. He was married to Jean in 1952 and they suffered a great loss through the deaths of three of their children Robert in 2004, Lorna in 1961 and Ian in 1962.

He was mainly a dairy farmer and was made a Life Member of the Ulster Farmers Union in 2007, was a Past County Down Chairman and served as a member of the Executive Committee and Lands Commercial and General Committee for many years.

Bertie was a progressive farmer, the first in the area to have a silage harvester and had a combine harvester around 55 years ago.

He was a founding member of Annaclone and Magherally Young Farmers Club and served as Club President for many years.

He was a member of Ballydown Presbyterian Church and a representative of the Banbridge and Iveagh Presbyteries, as well as a member of session at Ballydown for 64 years from 1951 - 2015 and the Convenor for the Graveyard Committee for many years.

The family would like to thank the Doctors, Nurses and Carers for their faithful service over the past months.

The funeral took place from Bertie’s home on Friday 10th April to Ballydown Presbyterian Church, filled to capacity, at which his minister, the Rev Liam Rutherford, paid a fitting tribute to Bertie’s life.

The hymns ‘I’m not Ashamed to Own my Lord’ and ‘How Great Thou Art’ were sung, accompanied by Mrs Diane Murphy on the organ.

The family would like to thank the ladies of the congregation for providing a beautiful spread of refreshments. The interment took place in the adjoining Churchyard with family flowers placed on the grave.

William Bell and Co. had charge of the funeral  arrangements.