KEITH Joseph Yore , 96, of “Negoa”, Kayuga, Muswellbrook, passed away peacefully in the early hours of October 1.
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He was born on May 6, 1921, in the shire of Logan in South East Queensland.
One of seven children reared on a dairy farm and thoroughbred stud, “Ardee” on the Logan River.
Schooled at Nudgee College in Brisbane, he went on to become a teacher.
The Second World War interrupted that career and Keith enlisted in the RAAF in 1942 at the age of 21.
He trained as a navigator, bomber and gunner and served in the Pacific theatre culminating in navigating to Japan for the official surrender.
War scholarships were offered to returned serviceman and Keith took the opportunity to do Engineering at the University of Queensland.
On graduation, he initially worked in the sugar industry before purchasing the farm produce business, Krantz’s Farmers Service in Ogilvie Street, Denman.
Georgina and Keith were married in 1953 and had four children – Peter, David, Annette (dec) and Susie.
Hence the acronym which saw Krantz’ Farmers Services transform to
Dapkos Denman.
Subsequently, 12 grandchildren arrived – Jessica, Amity, Katie, Michael, Evan, William and Mia Yore, Max, Harry, Jeanie and Roy Lochead and Lou Hall.
Constantly driven, Keith successfully pursued numerous business interests.
Dapkos expanded to Muswellbrook and Singleton.
He designed and manufactured irrigation systems and farm machinery.
Keith also ventured into viticulture in 1970, planting grapes and building wineries at Muswellbrook and Pokolbin.
Other farming interests included the dairy at “Negoa”, grazing at “Backwater”, and Verona Pecan nuts.
A keen fisherman, Keith won the Rakia Salmon Fishing competition on the South Island of New Zealand in 1984 – this became an annual family holiday.
Great times were had, and great Kiwi friends made.
Keith will be remembered as a firm, but fair, businessman with a wry sense of humour, an innovator who used his skills and motivation to take on new projects and push them to completion.
He was a devout family man, constantly supportive to all family members and especially Georgina in her final years.
A memorial service will take place at Hunter Belle Cheese on Thursday, November 2, from 4pm.
Family and friends are welcome, speeches and light refreshments provided.
