The Coast mourns a leading light

The Central Coast is mourning one of its leading lights following the death last week of Kevin Booth at the age of 92.

The mainstay of Booth’s Motor Group for more than six decades and a long-time member and former President of Gosford Musical Society, Kevin was loved and respected by generations of residents.

He passed away on Wednesday, July 26.

Born in Gosford on August 13, 1930, Kevin attended Gosford Public and Gosford High schools, before joining his parents, Fred and Evelyn, in the business they had started in 1939.

“Dad was there the day the business opened, when he was just nine, and always knew that’s where his future would lie,” son David said.

He built it up to become a hugely successful business, overseeing it becoming a Rootes Group new car dealer in the 1940s and moving into car sales.

He was still seen at his desk daily until he was 90, even after sons David and Col and daughter Sandie took over the business.

A dedicated businessman, Kevin also had a lifetime passion for musical theatre.

He was one of Gosford Musical Society’s first members, joining in 1947 when he was just 17, and was involved in numerous productions, both on-stage and backstage for many years.

He was a Life Member of GMS, was President of the group many times and also enjoyed the rare honour of being named a Life Member of the Committee.

“This meant he was always welcome at meetings and he continued to attend them until he was in his late 80s,” David said.

“He loved everything about GMS.

“He loved performing and working backstage and just helping out anywhere; he was totally committed to it.”

It was a shared love of music which first drew him to his wife Nancye.

“Mum used to walk to her singing lessons past the dealership and Dad saw her and struck up a conversation,” David said.

“He invited her to a dance and mum tells the story that she left her earrings in his top pocket so he would have to see her again to give them back.”

The romance flourished and the two married on October 12, 1957.

Nancye helped out in the dealership in the early years of the marriage and the couple worked together on many GMS shows as they raised their three children, all of whom followed their parents into the business and into GMS as well.

“Col and Sandie weren’t as involved with GMS in later years as I was, but we were all in shows and helped backstage from a young age,” David said.

Kevin is survived by his wife Nancye, sons David and Col Booth, daughter Sandie Parry, daughters-in-law Kate and Jacquie Booth, son-in-law Rob Parry, grandchildren Jake, Emily, Matt, Kelly, Sophie, Hamish and Hannah and great-grandchildren Indi and Nixon.

“Sandie’s daughter Emily is due to have a baby at the end of August and only recently Dad was saying the baby might arrive on his birthday – August 13 – and should be called Kevin,” David said.

“Sandie replied ‘I don’t think so – it’s a girl’ and we all had a good laugh.

“Dad loved to laugh.

“He had a wonderful sense of humour and loved people playing tricks on each other.”

Awarded an OAM, Kevin was also nominated for the Community Theatre Association of NSW Hall of Fame and served on the Anglican Parish Council for more than 60 years.

He was also a past President of Gosford Rotary and Patron for Gosford Rugby Club after taking an interest in the game as he watched son David play.

“Dad was a hard worker and was dedicated to anything he took an interest in,” David said.

“He always wanted the best outcome for everything he was involved in.

“His interests were wide and varied – he even used to race speed boats on Gosford Broadwater in the ‘60s and ‘70s.”

The funeral service to celebrate the life of Kevin Booth OAM will be held on Wednesday, August 9, at 1pm at Gosford Anglican Church, 3 Mann St with all welcome to attend.

Terry Collins