He was the type of man to give someone a hand up.

It was that character trait, amongst many others, that were talked about during Mr Magrath’s funeral in Raymond Terrace on Monday.

Mr Magrath’s health turned suddenly on Friday, February 28.

He was rushed to hospital and admitted. Mr Magrath slipped into a coma, which he did not wake up from.

Mr Magrath had turned 80 in January. 

Russell Magrath, one of the pastor’s eight sons, said his father had experienced health problems for many years but it had not slowed him down.

“He was getting ready to go to Africa,” he said.

“He did a lot of things he was told he couldn’t do.”

Mr Magrath and wife Beryl, who died in 2008, moved to Medowie after travelling around Australia pioneering churches.

They raised eight sons and grew the Medowie Assembly of God church to the point where it reached more than 3000 people each month.

In 2013 Mr Magrath was named Port Stephens Citizen of the Year.

It was the third time Mr Magrath was nominated for the Port’s highest honour, but in 2013 he finally claimed it.

He was honoured with the title for his life-long devotion to those less fortunate, including establishing a non-profit recycled clothing store, Opportunity Knocks, and welfare program, Food Way, which provides food for more than 900 struggling families of Port Stephens.

At the time, Mr Magrath told the Examiner he was "delighted" to have received the award after being nominated twice before.

“I would have to thank God for the vision and strength,” he said.

“I could have been doing anything, but I'm doing what the community needs.”

In talking about his father, Russell said “I think he understood the heart of people”.

“I think he understood that people weren’t looking for a hand out, but a hand up, that they just needed a little bit of help to get there.”

Mr Magrath retired in April 2015, 60 years after taking up his first church position.

He delivered his last sermon during Easter Sunday mass and officially retired on Sunday, April 12.

“I came to Medowie 25 years ago to retire,” Mr Magrath said at the time of retiring.

“When I came here it [Medowie Assembly of God] was just a church.

“I looked at the rest of the community and I felt very sad that no one was taking care of them, no one was reaching out and helping people who were hungry or poor.”

About 60 people including friends, family, members of the community and Port Stephens councillors turned out to the funeral service on Monday.

The service was held at Lance L. Boots Funerals.