OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1917, Page 4

OBITUARY.

COLONKL E. X. L. OKEY, V.D. A well-known and hit-hly respected resident of New Plymouth, in the person of Colonel K. N. L. Okey, V.D,, died in tile New Plymouth Hospital early yesterday morning at the age of C:> years, Colonel Okev liail heen in illliealth for some time past, and ho rapidly grew worse. His ronditiop necessitated removal to the hospital, wber» he died rather unexpectedly. ColoneJ Okey was horn in Gloucestershire, and was tiie eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Edward Okey. Tic came to New Zealand when lie was three years of ag«', a>>'l his parents settled in Taranaki in lS.j". tolom'l Okey was educated in a private school in New Plymouth, and he afterwards joined his father in business. Tie became a member of the firm of Okey, Son, and Arnold, ironmongers, painters, and paperhangers. The partnership continued until quite recently, when it was dissolved, and Colonel Okey retired from business, and inter ested hini=elf in farming on- his property 1 on Frankley lioad.

Colonel Okey had nn interesting military record, <uid was at one time one of lite finest rille shots in the Dominion. He enrolled in the Egmont Rifle Volunteers in March, 1871. and remained a member of the corps until it was disbanded in 187-1. lie soon afterwards hecame connected with the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers, In ISSO he won the New Zealand Ui lie Association's champion boll, and on several occasions lie gained the regimental championship belt. In 1 t?Sv?, after six years' service with the Taranaki Rilles, Colonel Okey was gi\en a commission. He rose gradually from sub-lieutenant, and in lAO+ he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, with the command of the -titli Battalion Wellington Hi lie Volunteers. He retired in August, 1!>11, with the rank of honorary coiouel. As u, member of the Methodist Church, Colonel Okev'hail held all the positions'open to a layman, including the conductorship of the choir. His death ic mourned by a widow and two 'daughters, and a wide circle of friends. The interment will take place this afternoon. A portion of the burial service will be held in the Vi'hiteley Church about a quarter to 3, and at tho close the cortege will proceed to the Ta Ileum Cenieterv.