KIND-HEARTED Dessie Armstrong will be remembered for his big personality and love of vintage tractors, said his family, who were paying tribute following his passing last week.

Late of Ballagh Road, Fivemiletown, Dessie (79) passed away peacefully at the South West Acute Hospital on Monday, January 25, following a battle with cancer.

"He was a big-hearted man," said Dessie's son-in-law, Niall Bracken, speaking to The Impartial Reporter on behalf of the family.

"He was small in stature but was a big personality. Once met, never forgotten," he added, noting that his late father-in-law was also "very kind-hearted".

"He would've helped people out who didn't have much. He would've gone out of his way to help people if they needed it," said Niall.

Dessie was born on March 13, 1941 at the townland of Coolcran, Tempo. The youngest of three children, he was brought up on the family farm along with his sister, Rita, and his brother, Bill.

"He worked on the family farm in different jobs, driving lorries and things like that," said Niall.

Dessie married the love of his life, Patsy, at a ceremony in England. The couple later moved from Fermanagh to live in the Manchester area when their two children, Cyril and Sharon, were little.

During his time living in England, Dessie had a variety of jobs. He went on to start a business and at one stage had around 50 diggers and lorries, and 70 employees.

In 1995, he bought the British Legion in Cadishead in Manchester, which he called The Royal Arms.

"He moved out of the machinery business and became a publican," said Niall.

Although Dessie had been living in Fivemiletown up until his passing, he still had the pub in Manchester, and travelled back and forth to England very often.

"He bought the house in Fivemiletown six or seven years ago, and in the last few years he had made Fivemiletown his permanent home.

"But Dessie would never have retired. He was always wheeling and dealing of some description," added Niall with a laugh.

Noting that Dessie took the saying 'here for a good time, not for a long time' "quite literally", Niall added: "He liked to have a good time, but he also liked his friends and people around him to have a good time as well.

"He really enjoyed being out and about with his friends, but his big passion was tractors," said Niall, adding: "The highlight of the month was when Tractor Monthly came through the letterbox.

"Everyone braced themselves, because they weren't sure what make, model or colour of tractor was going to be delivered the next day or in the next week or two," he laughed, going on to explain that Dessie had an extensive collection of vintage tractors.

"They were all in pristine condition," said Niall, noting that Dessie particularly liked Fordson tractors.

"His latest purchase of a tractor, which was in October, it was his favourite one, and he expressly wished that it led the cortège at his funeral," he added.

Dessie's funeral was arranged by Marcus Madill of S. R. Elliott Funeral Directors, and took place on Wednesday, January 27.

Led by Dessie's favourite tractor, a 1956 David Brown 900 RAF Tug, the funeral cortège travelled through his childhood homeland of Tempo before making its way to St. John's Church of Ireland Church in Fivemiletown.

Along the route, numerous mourners stood out to show their final respects from a social distance.

"That meant an awful lot to the family," said Niall.

A much-loved husband of Patsy and a devoted father of Cyril (Lynne) and Sharon (Niall), also a very dear brother of Rita and the late Bill, and a very special grandfather of Connor, Katie, Olivia, Hannah, Faye and Grace, Dessie is very sadly missed by all the family circle.