Inspirational octogenarian will be missed
He was known to his family and friends as 'the fittest man alive'.
Born in Banfarm, Port Shepstone in 1931 Ramsayi Dowra, the youngest of four brothers and five sisters died on March 5, aged 88.
He began his working career at a very young age as a carpenter at Woodstreet Builders, also known as Naidoo’s, in Port Shepstone. He would ride his bicycle daily to and from work and earned just four pounds a week.
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Carpentry is what he excelled at and many South Coasters can point out at least one thing in their homes crafted by Mr Dowra, who was always ever willing to help with the right tool to fix anything.
He married Sitha in 1960 and the couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on February 28. Every single year on February 14, Mr Dowra would personally go out and buy his wife a gift and even offer to go back and exchange it if she didn’t like it.
At the age of 88 he renewed his driver’s licence on his first attempt, even passing his eye test – without the need for glasses.
He loved being independent and having the ability to drive himself around whenever he needed to, from the time he bought his first car in 1965, an Austin 1800 to his last drive in his Opel on the day before his death.
Known to his family and friends as ‘the fittest man alive’, he was regularly seen climbing and pruning the highest branches of his mango and litchi trees. He was a master thunee player and an avid fisherman who loved spending time on the rocks at Southport beach.
Anyone aware of his impatient nature knew however that whenever the rod was in hand, he had all the time in the world!
Besides the occasional illness over the past few months, he was medically blessed. He never suffered from blood pressure pressure problems, sugar levels, heart or liver complications.
He never wore glasses or hearing aids and did not use a walking stick. He was truly an inspiration to all.
He maintained his interest in current affairs, kept in close touch with his grandchildren and was very proud of their achievements. He is survived by his wife, three sons, one daughter, two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and seven granddaughters.
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