Edward's Life Story is followed by twelve separate tributes (beginning with Henry Coulter's and ending with Family Tribute of Dr Leah Remeika-Dugan), and then two videos and some photos and thoughts. Begin here: Edward Watson Dugan was born in Rathfriland County Down, Northern Ireland, 1940 to his parents Edward Carson Dugan and Muriel Mary Ross (nee Watson) Dugan. His father died in August 1939 before Edward arrived on the scene to his sweet and kind mother, Muriel. He is being buried on the same day of the death of his wife Leah's father, the 2nd of February. Edward left us in January, 2012, after collapsing from a brain aneurysm on the family front car park, whilst preparing to go on a ski trip, which was due to depart to Duved Sweden in just a few hours. He was bounding up and down the stairs healthy and fit that same Christmas morning. He was super-fit to the end. He was so vibrant and loved life. That same year he and his wife had done a full marathon in Inverness where they were married, and they's skied in the arctic circle at Easter, and had just returned from a week in Italy, two months before. In spite of the Christmas Day collapse and immediate severe brain injury, he held on fighting for 31 days when most would last only a few hours, heroically giving his wife a chance to kiss him and hold him and say goodbye. Though he was prepared to meet his Maker, he didn't want to leave his life here - just as Jesus came down to this earth by choice. Eventually his body's God given innate intelligence couldn't see his way to continue in his difficulties and he lost the battle, but was victorious in Christ, where he remains now, not in the shell in the coffin, but he is present with the Lord. Edward, or Eddie as he was known to his friends, grew up in Rathfriland County Down Northern Ireland, first sitting atop the glass counter of his family's fancy goods shop, known as Watsons. He was first known as a wee boy to greet the customers as they came in to the shop, with his bright and handsome smile, saying, "Hello, are you being served?". He attended primary school in Rathfriland, and later attended a Quaker boarding school called Friends School in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland, with his cousin Pamela Thompson McClelland. During his early years World War II was still going, and he experienced his family offering regular hospitality to the American troops, and he often talked about individuals whom remained friendly with the family long after the war was finished. He spoke often of the American brass bands practicing up and down the streets of Rathfriland, and he spoke of the town blackening out the windows for safety, and how an American doctor saved his life as a small boy. When Eddie was three years of age, and as the American doctor was being served a meal one evening at Watson's shop living quarters and by Edward's family as part of their heroic war effort, the American doctor had heard his laboured breathing upstairs as an infant, and enquired as to the noise, and when he discovered it was Edward, he offered to intervene to help, which Edward later believed was God's hand saving him. As well, he spoke fondly of American chewing gum that the troops often gave to him after his family gave them the use of a shower and a meal. This intrigued his interest in things American and made it all the more special for him when he received his green card and he and his wife travelled there for himself on several occasions. After three years of attendance, Eddie left Friends School feeling that his needs were better served at Newry Grammar School, in Newry County Down Northern Ireland, after which he became re-aquainted with his old friend Henry Coulter, though Henry would later join the RAF, but they remained life time friends. In fact Edward had a way of making many people feel like they were life time friends. In the following year after finishing Newry Grammar School, Edward did a year's apprenticeship in a shop on Sugar Island in Newry called J & E Whittens, in which he gained valuable experience which helped him run his family's shop, Watsons, in Rathfriland. He grew up loving badminton, golf, tennis, classical music, history, and hill walking. Eddie also accumulated several badminton trophies over the years, and clocked in literally thousands of miles walking and golfing the Royal County Down golf course in Newcastle County Down. He also grew up and spent his life caring for women. His mother, his Auntie Jean and Auntie Ida, and later, of course, his wife, Leah. He was so excellent as a nurturing carer, that he received the "William Keown Trust Outstanding Carers Award for excellent service to another member of humanity" - and was awarded this honour for caring for his Auntie Jean in her terminally ill status as an Alzheimer's patient. After his Auntie Ida died, he gingerly and excellently cared for his Auntie Jean's every need and with dignity up to the time of her death. Just few months after his Auntie Jean died, he met his wife, Leah. They have been together every day since then. They were never parted for a single day. He often said he wished they had met 25 years before they did. He cared for his wife Leah with the same godly dignity that he demonstrated to his Auntie Jean and his mother Muriel, and his Auntie Ida. As Leah has said on countless occasions, "Edward didn't need any lessons in how to be a good husband, he is my hero.", and although they married late, he quickly fell into the most excellent way of being the adored husband any woman would die for. And being the humble great husband he was, if he was here today, he would say, "and I'm a lucky man to have Leah!". Right to the end he cared for his wife. She will tell you a bit about that later in her tribute to Edward. When all the world seeks to be entertained by bread and circuses, Eddie and Leah had a fun, and joy-filled marriage and life together entertaining each other with their own company. They travelled the world together, walking and skiing, and seeing the sights Eddie had only previously read and heard about - and even fulfilled Eddie's dream of living in America for 18 months, until he decided that in the event either of them took ill in the future, the American health care system could wipe them out financially, so he made the rightful decision to move them back to the UK, though this was a difficult decision for both of them, they faced it together, like they did everything. A spirit of joy, happiness, and a great sense of fun and adventure permeated their life and marriage and business together. Edward had an anointing from God of sweetness, gentleness, and quiet nobility resting on his head. He was the envy of County Down as a faithful, truthful, quintessential, Irish gentleman, and the apple of God's eye. He was the most selfless man one could ever meet in ten lifetimes, a true representation of God on this earth, Humble and Loving Servant of God, impossibly unique and unsurpassed in his humanity and love toward others. Where the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13, Love is Patient, Love is Kind, it doesn't boast or is not proud or self seeking, you could substitute the name "Edward". Edward was patient, Edward was kind, Edward never boasted nor was ever proud nor ever self-seeking. He never delighted in evil but Edward always protected, always hoped, always trusted, and always persevered to the very end, which came in January 2012. - 8 Where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For now we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish things behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13 Eddie became a born again Christian in 1971, just months before his beloved mother Muriel died, and to her delight, as this was her prayer for her precious son. He was a sweet creature for his entire life from the very beginning - always game for a great laugh, and after his commitment to Christ, he FULLY manifested the love of Jesus Christ from that moment forward and for the rest of his life. He has truly been a special gift to all the women in his life - and is predeacesed by his father Edward, his mother Muriel, his Auntie Ida Watson, his Auntie Jean Watson, and is remembered his step daughter, Mrs. Jennifer Remeika, as well as his cousins and friends and acquaintances, and of course, his beloved wife, Dr Leah Remeika-Dugan. It is with the following eulogies, tributes, memoirs and photos that we remember and celebrate his greatness as a man of God and his truly wonderful life.