Northland's oldest man laid to rest with true love

Some of Bill Tuckey's many grandsons carry his casket to another grandson's 1971 Holden Premier HG, filled with roses from the 105-year-old's own garden, for his final journey up the hill to Rawene cemetery.

Northland's oldest man has been laid to rest, next to the girl he first set eyes on almost 90 years ago.

At least 100 people from as far away as Bluff filled the Rawene Town Hall on Thursday to farewell Trevor William (Bill) Tuckey. The service was relayed on speakers to another 30 people who couldn't fit inside.

Bill, aged 105, died peacefully in Rawene on Sunday. He lived in his own home until age finally caught up with him about six months ago, and he had to move into Hokianga Hospital's long-stay unit. He was Northland's oldest man, having taken up the mantle from his mate Bob Edwards, of Ngataki, who died last year aged 109.

Eldest granddaughter Lynn Herman, of Whangarei, recapped his long life, starting with his father's death shortly after World War I - he had never recovered from being gassed in the trenches - and the day the 16-year-old first set eyes on Nora Cochrane as she walked down Parnell St on her way to work at Rawene's general store.

They were married in her parents' front yard in 1934, and had six children. Bill's dairy factory work took them around the North until they returned to Rawene in 1950. Jobs as a dairy farm inspector, delivery man and Hokianga County Council storeman followed before he retired in 1979.

When Nora died 22 years ago her grandfather "lived with it but he never got over it", she said.

He loved rugby, cricket and tennis - many a rival had fallen to his left backhand slice - and was an avid gardener, whose dahlias and tomatoes were renowned throughout South Hokianga.

In particular she remembered her grandfather's Sunday walks up the hill to the cemetery, fresh flowers in hand, to visit Nora.

"Now finally he'll be laid next to her. That was his last wish."

Megan Stuart, of Ruakaka, thanked the people of Rawene who for years had visited her grandfather with food, fresh fish, and chats over cups of tea.

Without their support he could not have stayed independent for so long. She also thanked the staff of Hokianga Hospital, who had cared for him with such devotion in his final six months, "when the body wouldn't follow the mind any longer".

As years went by many family members suggested he move closer to them, but he wanted to stay in Rawene, where he could visit Nora any time and make sure she always had fresh flowers.

Long-time friend Peter Macauley, of Kaikohe, said Bill sometimes regretted living so long because he had outlived his friends and two of his own sons.

"Despite that it's a wonderful thing to live for 105 years. It has been a great innings," he said.

Minister Peter Naera, part of Nora's whanau, and his wife Marina led the service in English and te reo.

He urged the congregation to remember Bill's values, his work ethic, and his simple, humble lifestyle.

His last trip up the hill was in a grandson's 1971 Holden station wagon, on a bed of roses picked from the same bush he and Nora were married under 83 years earlier.

His son Graham Tuckey's ashes were buried with him.