An Inverness murder victim has been laid to rest nearly eight weeks after she was found dead in her home.
Tragic Liz Mackay was described as a woman who “loved her own company” at her funeral in the city yesterday.
The 60-year-old was buried at Kilvean Cemetery following a service at the funeral home of William Fraser and Sons.
She was found dead at her home in Kintail Court in the Hilton area of the city on March 31.
A 70-year-old man has been charged with her murder and is facing trial.
The funeral service was led by Allan Dunbar who told the gathered mourners that Ms Mackay had attended Merkinch Primary and Inverness High School.
He described how they enjoyed “great fun” as a family, with parents Catherine and Ernest and sisters Dorothy and Alison, on regular trips and picnics.
Ms Mackay initially found work at the Eastgate Centre on leaving school but dropped out soon after, leaving her father “so hurt” because “he could see the potential in his daughter”.
Ms Mackay moved to Nairn after marrying Terence Muir at 17 and having a daughter, though the couple went on to divorce.
Mr Dunbar said: “Liz sadly lost contact over the years with her family and this was exceptionally hard for the family to accept.”
“There were spells in Liz’s life where the family did not have a clue where she was. They lost contact completely as she moved around over the years,” he added.
He described Ms Mackay as a “real loner who kept very much to herself”.
However, he said that she loved her dog Sooty, a cross terrier/collie which was described as her “special friend”.
The minister described her as an “exceptionally fit” woman who walked everywhere, while her house was kept in an “immaculate” condition with well-stocked cupboards.
He also said the family wanted to thank two of Liz’s friends for their support – “Robert from Skye” who was described as a loyal friend and Kenny Robertson, a case worker at New Start Highland.
To Mr Robertson, on behalf of the family, Mr Dunbar said: “You’ve been a star”.
Ms Mackay was found in her home, where she had stayed for the past eight years.
The property was where Brian Grant murdered hairdresser Ilene O’Connor a decade ago.
Pensioner Michael Taylor, 70, has been charged with murdering Ms Mackay.
He has made no plea or declaration in either of his two appearances at Inverness Sheriff Court and has been committed for trial.
