OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 20, 2 November 1943, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR TOM STURDY It is with the utmost regret that we record the death of. Mr Tom Sturdy, following, .severe injuries sustained in an accident on Saturday evening. Mr Sturdy., who was a Great War volunteer, was, at. onq time, an employee of the Commercial Hotel. He acted as greenkeeper for the Whakatane Croquet Club, later joined the Public Works Department, and, for the past few years was a highly respected and most popular employee of the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company. His years of service with the Dairy Company were typical of his efforts on behalf of all previous employers. Gifted with the qualities of loyalty and punctuality, to an u.n-. usual degree, lie so ably carried out his duties as gardener that the grounds and surroundings of the dairy company to-day stand out as a tribute to his initiative and mi t ting toil. His old bach on the banks, of the Rangitaiki River, with its .simplicity and simple furnishings and effects, tells, so graphically, the- story of a man who had so little and left so much. Mr Sturdy's death has emphasised the importance of the siimplest and finest things in human character,, and his independence and uncomplaining attitude to life were, qualities to be admired, and emulated, "Old Tom", as his friends affectionately called him, will indeed be .sadly missed. His memory and his influence will live on, but we are poorer for his passing.