**Hundreds gathered at the funeral of a pensioner who was allegedly beaten to death in her home to say goodbye to the "kind-hearted" woman who was a "**rock" to her family.

Family and friends of Mary Logie, whose body was found in her first-floor flat in the Green Gates area of Leven, Fife, last month, gathered at Leven Parish Church for a poignant service.

Rev Gilbert Nisbet told around 200 mourners the community was still struggling to understand what happened to the active, independent and friendly widow, who was known as Rae.

He said the service must not be overshadowed by the circumstances around Mrs Logie’s death, and instead be about remembering her life, personality and to "give thanks for all that she was and all that she meant to us".

Sandra Weir, who also lived in the Green Gates area, was charged with murder two weeks after her death, and a trial is set to take place later this year.

Mr Nisbet told the congregation on Friday: "We gather today, a community shocked by the event which caused the death of Rae Logie, struggling to comprehend all that has happened here among us.

"Our service this morning is overshadowed by the terrible action which caused Rae’s death, but we must not let this predominate our gathering, nor allow it to fester into bitterness in our hearts.

"We are naturally angry at what happened to Rae but we have come together this morning to remember the lady she was, the laughter and the love we shared with her, and to give thanks for her character and her personality, and for the way in which knowing her enriched our experience of life."

Born and brought up in Methil, Mrs Logie was an only child and worked in a local Co-op chemist shop after she left school and stayed there until she married her husband of 33 years Walter, known as Wattie.

The couple had three children, Ron, Derek and Carol and later worked as a part-time cleaner at a local photography business and as a home help.

Mr Nisbet said Mrs Logie, a regular churchgoer, was "always willing to go the extra mile to be helpful".

He said: "She cared for those she assisted and continued to visit them after she retired. Rae was able to look back with quiet pride and genuine satisfaction on all that she did through her working life."

Mourners, including Mrs Logie’s family from Australia and England, heard that she was a keen reader, a regular visitor to the library, loved travel television programmes and was a “great film buff” with a particular fondness for action thrillers.

Mr Nisbet said she was not afraid to voice her strongly held opinions, took pride in her appearance and having her hair and nails done regularly and loved dancing with her husband in her younger days.

"Rae met Wattie when they were introduced by a mutual friend at a party, marrying after a short courtship, and enjoying 33 years of a close, strong, supportive and loving marriage," the minister added.

"They were always together, except when Wattie went fishing - Rae drew the line at joining him in that - and she missed him terribly after his death.

"However, she managed, showing that stubborn determined streak which was one of her characteristics.

"She even leant to drive, although she did have several attempts before passing her test."

Mr Nisbet said Mrs Logie was active all her life.

"If it wasn’t the Guild, or the Tuesday and Friday lunches here at the Kirk, it was coach trips or mystery tours, as well as those stalwarts of each Christmas period, the pantos at the King’s in Edinburgh and the Adam Smith in Kirkcaldy," he added.

"We take our leave of Rae in this world, remembering her kindness, her friendliness, and her love - these things live on and we know that she will still be with us in the times to come.

"There are those who would, naturally, ask the question, where was God when Rae needed Him?

"Well, I have no doubt that he was right there with her, and that God continues to enfold her in His never ending love."

He added: "And God is here for us now, offering us His comfort, His strength, and His promise that nothing in all creation can ever separate us from His love in Christ Jesus our Lord, nor from those we have loved here."

Mrs Logie’s son Derek said: "We would like to thank everyone for their kindness and support at this difficult time. We would ask that privacy for the family is respected as we grieve for our mother."