Cudgegong Valley History Project

DEATH OE A PIONEER. Mr. William Keech, aged 86, passed away at his residence, Camboon, on Tuesday evening, 14th instant. Deceased was one of the pioneer settlers of Rylstone district, and was one of the most successful. He came from the Motherland. He was not afraid of hard work and long hours, and did things thoroughly. These qualities were the medium of his success. His motto might have been "Waste not, want not." Few, if any men, were more respected, and he leaves a family of sons and daughters who will honorably sustain and preserve the reputation of their parents. Mrs. Keech predeceased her husband by several years. To record all that might be written of the late Mr. Keech's life and connection with this district would run into columns. Suffice it to say that he was a moral, exemplary unit of this locality during the fifty odd years of his residence, and as he lived so he died. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon, and was well attended, though the news of the passing had not reached far into the surrounding district. The remains were interred in the Methodist portion of the cemetery, the Rev. Mr. Drummond carrying out the service at the grave most impressively (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thursday 23 April 1914, page 7).

The late William Keech came out to this country with the father of the well-known Dewey family, now deceased. Both were hardy pioneers, and knew how to hold money when they earned it. A coincidence was that both men, though they parted, when landing, eventually drifted to this district. (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thursday 23 April 1914, page 7).

Obituary -Eric Roger Keech The death occurred on February 12, 1979, of Eric Roger Keech at Rylstone District Hospital at the age of 78 years. Prior to his death Mr. Keech lived at Pinnacle Swamp Road, Rylstone and is survived by his wife and family. His interment took place in the Rylstone Cemetery after a service at St. James Church of England, Rylstone on 14th February, 1979. Mudgee Guardian Tuesday 27 February 1979 p. 11

Death Notice KEECH, Douglas, at Rylstone District Hospital, 23rd July 1982, late of 26 Mudgee Street, Rylstone, dearly loved husband of Nita, and loved father of Margaret, Shirley, Lois, Doug, Joy and Gwen, loved father-in-law and grandfather of their families. Macquarie Valley Funerals A.F.D.A. Telephone Mudgee 72-2331. Mudgee Guardian, Friday 30 July 1982, p. 17. Death notice Douglas Keech

Obituary Following a service in the Uniting Church, Rylstone on July 27, the funeral took place in the Methodist portion of the Rylstone Cemetery of Mr. Douglas Keech, 72, a highly respected life-long resident of the Rylstone area. Mr. Keech suffered from much ill health in recent times. He is survived by his wife Neta, who was the former Miss Neta Carr, a native of the Murragamba-Ulan area and a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Carr (nee Marskell) of Murragamba-Ulan, and later of Mudgee; and six children Margaret, Joy, Shirley, Lois, Gwen and Doug the youngest of the family, to whom sympathy is extended. Mudgee Guardian, Tuesday 3 August 1982, p. 2. Obituary Douglas Keech

Headstone reads: In Loving memory of My dear husband & our Father & Grandfather Douglas Keech Passed away 23rd July 1982 Aged 73 years [with Nita Joyce Keech]