In Enniskillen, love and loss weave through the life of Ivan Kee, a man of warmth and resilience, whose story is as bound to the landscape as the waters of Lough Erne.
Marking his 80th birthday last week, Ivan’s journey is a tapestry of family, faith, and a career dedicated to serving his community. Though he retired in 2011 from his renowned furniture store, Ivan’s presence in the town he treasures is still felt - a testament to his undiminished spirit and dedication.
Sitting in his home on the banks of the Erne, Ivan speaks of family, business, and the friendships that have enriched his life. “I always tried to treat people as I’d like to be treated,” he reflects. Known as a consummate people-person, he credits his father’s side with his emotional intelligence and his mother’s McClure family with a tireless work ethic. His natural storytelling, coupled with humour and charm, drew countless customers to his stores, each visit laced with warmth and respect.
Faith and community remain pillars in Ivan’s life. As a devoted member of St. Macartin’s Cathedral, he recently raised over €9,000 for the church at a birthday gathering attended by 150 friends. He is also actively involved with the Rotary Club, the Masonic Order, and the Orange Order - organisations to which he has dedicated much of his energy. Ivan describes these as communities of fellowship, support, and faith, each adding meaning to his life.
In 2020, Ivan and his wife, Avril, faced a profound loss with the passing of their eldest daughter, Shirley, who died at 49 from a sudden brain aneurysm. “When something like that happens,” he shares, “you begin to question everything. Only strength from above allowed me to close that lid on her coffin and say goodbye.” In the depths of grief, Ivan leaned on his faith and his church, finding comfort in his friends at the Rotary Club.
Ivan’s life story is one of determination and resilience. Born in Welshtown near Ballybofey in 1944, he moved with his family to a 72-acre farm in Trillick in 1951. His career began at just 15, when he saw a job advertisement in The Impartial Reporter for an assistant at B.C. Stewart & Co. near the Buttermarket. Earning £2.20 a week, Ivan learned the trade that would become his calling.
By the mid-1960s, Ivan was headhunted by Creighton’s, another hardware firm in Enniskillen. In 1966, after his father’s passing, he used his inheritance to open his first shop, initially renting a space where the SEFF shop now stands. He quickly developed a passion for buying and selling furniture at auctions, saying, “I could see it working from day one.”
Reflecting on his principles in business, Ivan says: “I had a policy of being honest and straightforward. If something isn’t right, don’t sell it. If it’s wrong, fix it. Keep the customer happy, and if you get a good reputation, it works well.”
In 1972, he purchased part of the old Regal Cinema, now Toytown, for £17,000. The location linked Townhall Street to Shore Road and became a pivotal point in his growing business. Ivan and Avril, who married in 1970, settled in Enniskillen and expanded their family as Ivan’s ventures flourished.
He recalls a memorable investment in 1990, when he bought the former Wellworths store on the corner of Derrychara - now Poundstretcher - for £600,000, a record property price in Fermanagh at the time. “It was a big leap,” Ivan recalls, “but I believed in the business and the town.”
At the height of his career, Ivan employed 20 people and was deeply involved in his community. He remembers his long-time employee, Elmer Marshall, who worked alongside him for over 30 years, and recently attended the funeral of Elmer’s sister, Mildred Evans, saying, “Elmer was my right-hand man. We moved furniture from houses all over Ireland.”
Ivan has always dedicated himself to Enniskillen’s community life. He joined the Orange Order at 18, playing pipes in the Trillick band for 18 years and later serving as a drum major for nearly 40 years. He describes the Orange Order as “a fellowship with a strong philosophy,” and emphasises the values of service and camaraderie he finds there. Ivan is equally passionate about his role in the Masonic Order, saying:
“As long as you believe in the Almighty, you can join the Order. It’s a brotherhood, a fellowship. I joined the Order in Trillick in 1971 - Castlederg No. 58 Lodge. It’s a network of men who support each other, and it’s there for the community.”
In 2015, Ivan was recognised for his commitment to charity with a British Empire Medal (BEM) presented by Lord Brookeborough at Hillsborough. He recalls meeting Prince Philip, saying, “He knew a lot about Fermanagh. It was a great day, a memorable day.”
In 1980, Ivan was appointed High Sheriff of Fermanagh, and Avril later received the same honour in 2003 - a unique achievement for the couple. Ivan was further recognised in 2017 with a business award from *The Fermanagh Herald*.
Ivan and Avril’s family includes four children: Paul, Brian, Sandra, and their late daughter Shirley. Ivan becomes emotional remembering Shirley, a classroom assistant who was married to Phil Rowland from Birmingham, with whom she had two children, Isla and Felix.
“She was fit and could run a marathon. On October 18, 2020, we got the call - come quick, Shirley has fallen,” Ivan recounts. “Phil found her lying on the floor; she had taken a brain aneurysm.” Although Shirley was placed on life support, there was no hope for recovery. Her decision to donate her organs has since saved five lives, a legacy Ivan cherishes deeply.
“It’s something you never get over,” he reflects. “When people ask how you are, if you truly told them, they’d be shocked. But we are lucky - Phil is an exceptional son-in-law. Isla has started university to become an Occupational Therapist, and Felix is at Portora and football-mad.”
His faith has been a source of strength throughout this period, with support from the church and his Rotary Club friends. “If you did not have the strength from above, you wouldn’t get through it. My faith was tested but ultimately strengthened through this experience.”
The Dean of St. Macartin’s visits annually on Shirley’s anniversary, a gesture Ivan finds profoundly comforting. He adds, “Sometimes parents who lose a child don’t stay together, but we’re very close. Our other children have stepped up to support us, and Avril, who’s so sensible, is my strength.”
Last year, in Shirley’s memory, Ivan and his family hosted an event that raised nearly €9,000 for St. Macartin’s. He continues to find purpose in giving back to the community, driven by a simple philosophy:
“I treat people as I would like to be treated. That’s the foundation of everything I’ve done.”
And in Enniskillen, where his name is synonymous with respect, service, and resilience, it’s clear Ivan’s life and legacy have touched countless others.
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