Mr Corrigan, who lived for many years at Fairhill Road in Cookstown, passed away in his sleep at Fairfields Nursing Home, on Monday, July 14.

Born at Mullaghdun, near Enniskillen, on August 4, 1922, he was one of a family of five – three brothers Hugh, Seamus and Eugene and a sister, Mary, all of whom are deceased.

He was educated at St Michael’s, Enniskillen, and chose journalism as a career.

In the mid-1940’s he came to live and work in Cookstown as a reporter with the MAIL.

After a few years in East Tyrone he was offered a job on the Irish News and moved to work in Belfast.

There he met his future wife, Eileen Murphy, and the couple were married on September 10, 1952.

Mr Corrigan was appointed editor of the Mail in 1951 and returned to live and work in the town.

Maurice and Eileen, who sadly died in 1977, had four children – Christine, Eileen, Fiona and Maurice.

He was a very quiet, private man who was devoted to his work and family. He neither smoked nor drank.

He enjoyed family holidays to Bundoran, Co. Donegal, each year and had been visiting the town from he was a young child. A religious person, he attended Mass regularly and helped out in parish activities.

He retired from work in 1988 and led a healthy, active life until he suffered a stroke in 2003.

Mr Corrigan had enjoyed walking, going on cruises, visiting his children and grandchildren in Ireland and Scotland.

He involved himself in charitable organisations and was secretary of the local Citizens Advice Bureau, PRO for the Mid-Ulster Local History Group and a past president of Cookstown Rotary Club.

In his last few years he had been in ill health. For 18 months following his stroke he was able to live at the family home supported by friends and neighbours.

Unfortunately his condition deteriorated in 2005 and he was admitted into a residential home.

He spent periods of time in hospital and in different nursing homes up to his death.

The family appreciate the great care and kindness shown by Fairfields Nursing Home staff to their father in the last few months of his life.

They would also like to thank Fr.Tremere and Neeson and Son Undertakers for their kindness, compassion and support in organising the funeral.