One of the last adult Inchnadamph residents of the mid-20th century, Nancy MacKenzie, died at Urray House Care Home, Muir of Ord, on 7th January, aged 90.
Nancy Baikie was born at Kintradwell near Brora, where her father was a farm stockman, on 8th November 1921, and later moved to nearby Gordonbush, where her mother died when she was only seven.
Tended briefly by relatives, she was soon, while still herself a child, running the family home. At the age of 15 she left for a time to train as a nurse in Edinburgh, before returning to Gordonbush, where she met her future husband, a young gamekeeper, Jimmy MacKenzie from Fairburn, Muir of Ord.
The couple married in 1940, and settled first at Torranruadh, Inchnadamph, where Jimmy had been appointed to a keeper's post. Called up into the RAF shortly afterwards, Jimmy managed to secure a posting to Easter Ross, from where he cycled to and from Inchnadamph whenever his military duties permitted.
In the late 1940s the MacKenzies moved to Stronchrubie, two miles east of Inchnadamph, where they remained until 1972 when Jimmy retired, and the couple moved to his family holding, Coul Croft, at Fairburn.
All members of the MacKenzies' five-strong family were born during their residence at Inchnadamph or Stronchrubie - Billy, Nancy Jnr, Margaret and James between 1941 and 1948, and latecomer Ian in 1960.
After Jimmy's death in 1990, aged 83, Nancy remained at Coul Croft until a few years ago, when failing mobility forced her to move into Highland Council's Urray House, where she was well cared for.
After her funeral service on 13th January, at Urray West Church, where she and Jimmy were married, she was buried with her husband in the adjoining cemetery.
Her second son James, in his tribute at her funeral service, said: "We were taught strong family values and were also encouraged to develop individually and to be independent at an early age.
"Mam was a very talented lady; her cooking and baking were second to none. She was also a very gifted dressmaker - as children she made all our clothes from whatever was available.
"Milking cows, making butter, working outdoors, making hay, stacking peats, Mam tackled any task that was an essential part of living in such an isolated area.
"A quiet, unassuming, but strong lady, she loved a good giggle and a bit of fun and her sense of humour was quick and a joy right to the end.
"She was always very considerate of other people and never wanted to cause anyone any bother."
Willie Morrison, a contemporary of Nancy's oldest son Billy, remarked: "I'll always recall her as a kind, hard-working, self-disciplined, hospitable and very well-organised woman, who nonetheless could keep unruly youngsters like myself firmly in order, without saying an unkind word.
"She had a quiet air of authority about her. She also, along with their father, instilled a strong work ethic in her family, for which I'm sure they have all been grateful in later years.
"I have very happy memories of playing, during childhood holidays at Inchnadamph, with Billy and Nancy Jnr, at Torranruadh and Stronchrubie.
"A highly intelligent and perceptive woman, Nancy remained mentally alert until the end. When I visited her in October, she was full of praise for her care at Urray House and uncomplaining, except for a wistful observation: 'I wish I could get a new pair of legs'."
