The father of a Whitfield woman found dead in the Cairngorms has paid tribute to his daughter.
Mother-of-three Susan Main (37), known as Susie by her family, was discovered after a major search and rescue operation in October. She had been reported missing the previous day. Police said her death was not being treated as suspicious.
Her father, former city councillor Raymond Mennie (61), said he was ”very proud” of his daughter.
”She was just a bundle of fun a smiley lass,” he said. ”She was one of those people who had lots of pals. She was well thought of. It’s just a tragedy.
”It was a delight to have known her and just to be part of her life. She was good at everything she did and made her family proud.”
Susie left Dundee at 17 to live in Ballater. The former Whitfield High School pupil became a stable girl with World Horse Welfare, or the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) as it was known then.
”She loved living up there,” Mr Mennie said. ”She liked the wild country and scenery.”
Susie married George Main at Crathie Church which serves Balmoral seven years ago. The couple had three children, Findlay (5), Ramsay (3) and Zander (2).
A keen rider, Susie obtained a 2:1 in equine science from Aberdeen University before returning to ILPH as a liaison officer.
She was also an accomplished piper.
”She had been piping since she was 13,” said Mr Mennie. ”She played for the city of Dundee band, the Blairgowrie band and the Ballater band. She used to pipe for the Queen at receptions at Balmoral.
”She was good at everything she tried. She did a horse-drive in Argentina. A 17-day drive with about 50 horses. She was an incredibly determined girl.”
Tributes to the popular mum have flooded in to Raymond’s Facebook page since her body was found in Glen Muick, near Ballater, on October 25.
Former Dundee Lord Provost Mervyn Rolfe wrote: ”I can’t believe this terrible news. She was such a talented and lovely person.”
Susana Carpenter posted: ”Susie will be missed but we must think she was an angel that God sent to heaven.”