The master craftsman, who ran Hiscock's Saddlery at Albury for decades, was also known as a lovable "larrikin" and keen sportsman.

Kerry Robert Hiscock was born on January 3, 1947 at Wagga to parents Joan and Adrian William (Bill) Hiscock.

He wanted to join the Navy but left school at 15 and moved to Sydney to learn the saddlery trade so that he could run the family business at Wagga when his father suffered a brain injury in a car accident.

Hiscock's Saddlery was established in 1904 by Kerry's grandfather, Bob Hiscock; Kerry was to become a third-generation craftsman and continued to use the tools his grandfather worked with for so many years.

The saddlery was taken over by Kerry's father Bill, whose brothers Bob and Jack set up saddleries at Tamworth and Cootamundra.

In turn, Bill's sons Garry and Kerry took over the business at Wagga after their dad's accident, and ran it during the 1960s and 70s.

Kerry opened a shop at Albury in the mid-1970s and serviced many country folk off the land as well as horse trainers and the general public, according to his daughter Savannah Wallen.

"He was renowned for his high quality workmanship and would custom make saddles and leather items such as belts, bridles and saddle bags as well as offering a repair service," she said.

Kerry is remembered as a generous man with a great sense of humour - he loved being the centre of attention and was famous for doing headstands on tables at parties, Savannah recalled.

"He would occasionally get off on the wrong foot with people when he first met them (with a few inappropriate comments) but soon formed an unbreakable bond with all who met him thanks to his generosity and sense of humour," she said.

Kerry HIscock often featured in the Border Mail throughout his career.

He first announced his expansion plans for his business in 1997, then became more notorious when he accidentally dropped a saddle on his head while attempting to hang it on his wall in his shop (reportedly there were 2 1/2cm nails digging in to the crown of his head).

Savannah says the only thing hurt was his pride but he thought it made a good story.

Kerry made the Border Mail again when he misplaced a rare 200-year-old antique bridle (which he later found in a "safe place" where he had put it at home).

The bridle had been bought at auction by his father in the 1950s when he outbid country singer Smoky Dawson.

Kerry was a keen sportsman, excelling in boxing, touch football, rugby league, squash, golf and tennis and he loved a beer with mates after a weekend of sport.

Kerry recovered from a stroke in 2017 but sadly vascular dementia set in and he passed away on April 1 at the Lutheran Aged Care Facility.

He is survived by his partner Joyce, brother Garry, sister Wendy, and children Adam, Justin, Savannah and Atlanta as well as many grandchildren.

He was also adored by his "other daughters" (Joyce's daughter's) Kim, Laurel and Lisa.

Due to current circumstances around the coronavirus, a private cremation was held with a service to celebrate Kerry's life set for January 2021.