Ararat Advertiser and Chronicle for the Stawell and Wimmera Districts (Vic. : 1899 - 1918), Tuesday 10 March 1914, page 3


OBITUARY. MR WILLIAM KING. A painful surprise was created in the town on Sunday afternoon last when it became known that Mr Wil-liam King, of Bowmont, Tatyoon, had expired. It was known that the de-ceased gentleman had not for some time past been in a satisfactory state of health. Indeed, since the death of his wife on the 8th January of last year, his health declined and he was forced to take a trip to New South Wales in the hope that change of air and scene would restore him to his wonted robust vigor. He appeared to benefit by the change, but soon after it was apparent that the result was not of a permanent character. He was indisposed in the early part of last week, and at his request the Pre-sident of the Shire of Ararat apologis-ed for his inability to attend the council meeting, and leave of absence was requested for a couple of months. This was promptly granted, but not even his nearest friends anticipated that his condition was so grave and his end so near. He passed away on Sunday, the immediate cause of death being syncope. The deceased gentleman, who spent all his life in this district, his father being one of the pioneer farmers of Tatyoon, had reached the age of, 50 years. He was elected a member of the Shire Council about five years ago, and was its President last year, and he took a keen interest in all matters connected with local government. He was for many years a member of the committee of the Agricultural Society, and for a term its President, and as a breeder of fine stock his services to the society 'were of distinct value, 'and were much appreciated. An active public man, a keen sportsman and a man of generous instincts and kindly feeling, Mr King's too early death not only brings sorrow to a wide circle of personal friends, but it removes from the social and public activities of the district one whose loss will be greatly felt in many directions. He leaves a family of four sons' and three daugh-ters - the youngest child being an in-fant a little over a year old, to mourn the loss of a thoughtful and indulgent parent. His remains were interred yesterday in the family grave in the Tatyoon Cemetery, being followed to ;heir last resting place by a large num-ber of sorrowing friends. The burial service of the Presbyterian Church, of which the deceased was a member, was conducted at the grave by the Rev. A. O. Hardie. The remains were en-cased in an oak coffin, and the cortege included over 50 vehicles, besides motor cars and equestrians. The pall-bearers, icluded most of the members of the Shire Council, the President (Cr Stherland), and Crs Calvert, Richard-son, Byrne, and Mr R. D. Speed, C.E., Shire Engineer, and'Messrs J. C. Ware, A. Gamson, A. R. Hannah, S. Thornton, M. Cooper, A. Stewart, J. Brown, George Lewis, R. M'Leod and Dr. Matthews. The coffin-bearers were Messrs S. Jackson, G. Brebner, D. Martin, Thomas Hannah, H. Bates and ?. Lewis. The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Mr J. Dunn.