OBITUARY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 69, Issue 6015, 3 November 1944, Page 2

OBITUARY

MR JOHN PARR The death took place at Te Awamutu on Tuesday morning of Mr John Parr, an old and very highly respected resident of the district. Mr Parr leaves a widow, two sons (Reuben and Jim), and one daughter (Sarita) to mourn their loss; and to them the sympathy of all has been extended Mrs Mary Hodgson, of Hamilton, is a sister.

Born at Monavale, Mr Parr was the second son of the late Reuben and Maria Parr, early settlers of the Waikato district. The family later moved to Waihou, where the deceased spent his early boyhood and young mhnhood days.

Later he entered the importing and wholesale business in Auckland, and. was thus occupied for twenty-eight years, then resuming farming at Te Awamutu, spending the last fourteen years of his life on his property at Ngaroto.

The late Mr Parr was a staunch member of the Church of England, holding many offices over the years, and being people’s warden of St. John’s Church at the time of his death. Taking a keen interest in local body work, he was chairman of Mount Roskill Road Board and chairman of Epsom School Committee for twentyfour years.

Mr Parr was a man of the highest integrity of character, and the esteem and respect in which he was held were strikingly evidenced yesterday when a large number of friends gathered to pay their last tributes of respect both at his home in Ngaroto and at the grave-side. Further expressions of sympathy and esteem were seen in the large number of beautiful floral tributes that accompanied the casket. The services at the house and grave-side were conducted by the acting vicar, Rev. W. C. Wood. MRS CLARA PENNIKET The death occurred in Hamilton on Wednesday of Mrs Clara Penniket, an old identity of the Ohaupo district. Mrs Penniket was born in London on August 15, 1859, the second daughter of Mr George Hooks, and on May 5, 1882, she married the late Mr James George Penniket, emigrating to New Zealand with a young family in the late ’nineties. After living for shortperiods in Auckland and Christchurch, Mrs Penniket and her husband took up land at Ohaupo in partnership with the late Mr William Ranstead, the Pennikets and the Ransteads being the first settlers on the Rukuhia estate, which was subdivided in 1900. The late Mrs Penniket was for many years an active worker in the Church of England at Ohaupo, but in recent years increasing age compelled her to live a more retired life. She is survived by three sons, Mr James Penniket, of Rukuhia, Mr Thomas Penniket, of Ohaupo, and Mr John Huia Penniket, of Hamilton, and one daughter, Mrs J. B. Jackson, of Raglan. There are 13 grandchildren—five of whom are on active service overseas—and one great grandchild.