Howard’s Van Cooten Drapery owner Trevor Whitby has died

The community on the Fraser Coast is in mourning after the loss of a popular businessman whose old-school store stood the test of time.

Howard’s Trevor Whitby, owner of Van Cootens Drapery, passed peacefully on Monday.

A well respected Fraser Coast businessman has died, with dozens paying tribute to him on social media.

Trevor Whitby, owner of Howard’s Van Cootens Drapery, passed peacefully on Monday.

A post on the store’s Facebook page shared the sad news.

“If you’ve been in store, you would know Trevor enjoyed chatting with all our visitors and in previous years there was nothing he loved more than hitting the road with a trailer full of fabric to visit everyone at craft shows and retreats.

“He genuinely loved being part of this craft community.

“We sincerely thank everyone how has already reached out with their condolences at this time.”

Mr Whitby had been behind the counter at Van Cootens for more than 60 years.

“It won’t be the same without him,” Rhonda Taylor wrote on the store’s post.

Margaret Clancy said she had been one of the lucky ones who enjoyed an in-store chat with Mr Whitby over the years.

In 2010, he told the Chronicle he couldn’t see himself retiring any time soon.

His was a remarkable success story.

He was born in Maryborough Hospital but never left Howard after that, except to travel overseas and later set up a beach house with wife Ivy in Toogoom.

He began working in Van Cooten’s Drapery when he was 15, bought it 35 years ago and in between also worked in the hardware and grocery store along the road in Steley Street – which he also owned.

Arguably among the best known drapers in Australia, he loved operating the business alongside Ivy.

“I believe in the personal touch whenever I can because having lived all my life in Howard and spending half a century here in the store I feel very bonded to the business,” he told the Chronicle at the time.

More to come.