OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 25307, 10 June 1935, Page 4

OBITUARY

MRS C. H. LOVETT

ESTEEMED BLUFF RESIDENT

(From Our Correspondent.)

On Wednesday last there passed away at her residence, Foyle street, BLurf, one of the oldest and most highly esteemed residents of the port, Mrs C. H. j-ovett, widow of the late Captain Lovett (for many years harbourmaster at Bluff). Mrs Lovett, who had reached an advanced age, enjoyed good health up till a comparatively recent date and was only confined to bed for the last few days of her life. The late Mrs Lovett was born in Hobart, Tasmania, and was the daughter of Mr and Mrs Lucas, who had acquired land and settled there in Tasmania’s early days, Mrs Lucas’s father being a paymaster in that section of the Royal Navy. Many branches of both the original Lovett and Lucas families remain as residents of Tasmania.

After her marriage to Captain Lovett, the ceremony taking place in Avonside Church, Christchurch, Mrs Lovett spent many years at sea with her husband, often voyaging to the Homeland and to Australian ports. Because of a deep-rooted love for the sea, these were very happy years for the deceased and her voyages in such barques as the Norman MacLeod and Elizabeth furnished her with a host of pleasant memories.

Later, the young couple settled in Heathcote Valley, Christchurch, and from there came to Bluff about forty years ago, when Captain Lovett entered the service of the Harbour Board, to later become harbourmaster, a position he held for eleven years till the time of his death in January, 1918. Mrs Lovett from the time of . her arrival was actively associated with worthy social activities in Bluff, and in this respect has left a record of which her family may well be proud. A lover of her church, and always an ardent worker in movements affecting its welfare, she was a foundation member of St. Matthew’s (Church of England) Ladies’ Guild, and jn this branch of church life, as in all others, she rendered long and valuable service. Infant welfare work also engaged Mrs Lovett’s attention and when a branch of the Plunket Society was formed at Bluff she was elected to the office of president. Her interest in the work never slackened, and it was a source of great regret to her when advancing age caused her about twelve months ago to curtail her activities on behalf of the society. Fellow members fully appreciated \ the value of Mrs Lovett’s work, and recognition of it was shown when the honour of lifemembership was conferred on her. On the purely social side of local life she took a leading part in functions connected with the Bluff Bowling Club, of which her late husband was a foundation member and for many years an active participant in club activities. In all these spheres of labour Mrs Lovett gave of her best, never shirking a duty and bringing to all her efforts a cheerful readiness to assist and a steady enthusiasm which was an inspiration to her co-workers in any cause. As was to be expected in one whose chief aim in life seemed to be to render service to others, Mrs Lovett was the possessor of a very kindly nature and was ever ready to extend sympathy and assistance in necessitous cases. She possessed also an unfailing cheerfulness (which in her case was the sign of a healthy outlook on life) and this made her company very pleasant to her many friends and acquaintances. Her cheerfulness, indeed, was one of the dominating characteristics in her nature, and it is probable that her bright habit of mind was largely responsible for her long sustained air of youthfulness. On all occasions, in matters connected with her activities her alert mind was in evidence. In local events and those of wider import Mrs Lovett took a continued interest, and she was able to retain this interest practically to the last. The funeral took place on Friday afternoon when a very large number of mourners, representative of all sections of the community, attended. The services at the church and graveside were conducted by the Rev. W. W. Ewart, the pall-bearers at the former being the following members of St Matthew’s Vestry: Messrs E. A. Nichol, J. H. Doyle, E. Parsons, O. F. Metzger, G. Waddel and R. Woods. At the graveside the pall-bearers were Captains R. J. Hamilton and T. Ross, Messrs T Macdonald, T. Mullay, W. Thomson and L. McKenzie. The grave was covered with a beautiful array of floral emblems from local bodies and private citizens. Among the former were wreaths from the Bluff branch of the Plunket Society, Bluff Nursing Division (St. John Ambulance), Men’s Division, congregation of St. Matthew's Church, Bluff Harbour Board pilot staff, staff of Bluff Public School and pupils of the school. Mrs Lovett is survived by two daughters. Miss Eloise Lovett and Miss Dulcie M. Lovett, and two sons. Messrs Herbert and Ronald Lovett (all of Bluff) Another son, Bernard, who followed his father’s calling, was drowned in Newcastle Harbour in 1915. As a mark of respect to the deceased the flags on the Harbour Board buildings and local shipping offices were flown at half-mast when news of Mrs Lovett’s death was received.