OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 4 June 1914, Page 27

OBITUARY

MR. G. McSHEEHY GENTLEMEN, TEMUKA. The friends of Mr. George McSheehy Gentlemun, of Temuka, will learn with regret of his demise, which took place at his residence on May 11. The deceased was a very old resident of the town, and was much respected. For the last twelve months he had been confined to his bed, and his end was not unexpected. He leaves one brother, .Maurice, to mourn his loss. Mr. Gentlemun was born in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1839, and was brought up to the saddlery trade. In 1862 he sailed from Liverpool to Melbourne in the ship Donald McKay, and shortly afterwards came over to New Zealand. He was on the'Otago goldfields at the time of the big snowstorm, when many lost their lives. He afterwards obtained employment at his trade in Christchurch, and remained' there for eight years. In 1871'he was shipwrecked in the s.s. Ahuriri off Wakitipu Head, when everything on board was lost, but all hands were saved. In 1873 he came to Temuka, where he started in business as a saddler, and continued until 1893, when he was compelled to retire through ill-health. In 1874 Mr. Gentlemun joined the Temuka Volunteer Fire Brigade, of which he was a member at the time of his death. He became a lieutenant of the brigade, and at a banquet held on March 16, 1900, he was presented with the Fire Brigades’ Association’s long service gold star for twenty-five years’ continuous service. Thus, at the time of his death, Mr. Gentlemun had been a member of the brigade for forty years. The deceased was of a quiet, reserved disposition. He wisely limited his circle to intimate friends, and to those he was a sincere and trusted friend. A Requiem Mass , for the repose of the soul of the i deceased was celebrated in St. Joseph’s Church on the following Thursday by the Rev. Father Kerley, S.M. The funeral took place in the afternoon, and was very largely attended, the services at both the church and the graveside being conducted by the Rev. Father Lezer, S.M.— R.I.P.