PALM HARBOR, Fla. — One of the most outspoken critics of the Church of Scientology died Sunday in Palm Harbor.

Former Scientologists say they plan to keep Mike Rinder’s mission alive, remembering Rinder as a loyal friend.

“Just happened yesterday,” Amy Scobee said through tears. “He’s like a rock; we always thought he’d be here.”

For decades, Rinder and Scobee were top staffers inside the Church of Scientology. Rinder was an international spokesperson and executive director of its Office of Special Affairs, a catch-all department overseeing legal and public affairs. Rinder claimed much of his job was investigating and punishing members who disobeyed church law.

Scobee recruited celebrities into the church as a leader of the Celebrity Centre Network. She says much of her time was dedicated to shielding wealthy parishioners from anything that might prevent them from donating large sums of money.

“We started speaking out together when we actually left and escaped,” she said at her home in Safety Harbor.

Scobee and Rinder left the church in the early 2000s. Both crusaded against the church and claimed its leadership separated families, harassed detractors and physically and emotionally abused followers. Both wrote books detailing their experiences; Rinder was also co-presenter of the A&E documentary series, “Scientology: The Aftermath,” with actress and former Scientologist, Leah Remini.

“I witnessed him being beaten by the leader of Scientology, David Miscavige,” she claimed. “The abuses that went on that are so severe and just gross human rights violations.”

We reached out to the Church of Scientology for comment on Rinder’s passing. The church has not responded to our request for a statement but has said previously to CBS News that Rinder is an “unreliable source” and “inveterate liar.”

Brendan Tighe worked for Rinder as a teenager in the Office of Special Affairs and oversaw security for the Clearwater base before he left after reading the expose series on Scientology, “The Truth Rundown,” in the St. Petersburg Times in 2009. He says Rinder, who became estranged from his family, was grateful to be able to start another family outside the church.

“He was a soccer dad, and I’m a soccer dad,” he said. “Starting beautiful families and just living a normal life as much as possible was inspiring to me and I did the same.”

Before Rinder died from cancer on Sunday, he posted a final blog saying he was, “lucky to have lived two lives in one lifetime” but he regrets not being able to end the abuses of Scientology or see his son grow up.

Rinder drew admiration from many in Pinellas County, including William Rice, pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater.

“I will miss him and grieve his loss,” he said. “He will be remembered as a man who had the courage to admit he had gotten many things wrong and also the courage and tenacity to fight to right those wrongs and forge a better path for others.”

“There are still thousands of us who have voices and will continue to use our voices,” Scobee said. “His legacy will live on forever.”

Scobee and Tighe plan to make sure of that.