It is understood Robert Scott, Ms Scott's father, was killed by a falling tree on a farm near Canowindra. His daughter Stephanie was murdered on Easter Sunday 2015, only days before she was due to marry her boyfriend Aaron Leeson-Woolley.

Members of the public expressed sadness, shock and some bewilderment that tragedy could strike the same family twice in just over a year.

"I guess lots of us from time to time think we have had a tough time or a tough day ... and then you think of the Scott family, slowly coming to terms (if ever) with one tragedy and now having to cope with another. My heart breaks for this family," said one commenter on an article reporting Mr Scott's death.

Mr Scott was well known in the rural town of Canowindra. He retired as head teacher from Canowindra High School at the end of 2015 and, since the murder of his daughter, Mr Scott was often the spokesperson for the family.

Another member of the public wondered how the family could cope with two tragedies.

"How much grief can one family endure? This is terrible news. I'm so sad for this family. "

The double tragedy moved many to tears: "This is so sad. I cried when I first heard it ... I don't know how one family could deal with this much heartache."

Since the murder of his daughter, Mr Scott - known as Bob - had been a pillar of strength to his family.

Only weeks ago, he stood next to his wife Merrilyn, holding her hand as she read a victim impact statement to a special sitting of the NSW Supreme Court in Griffith.

Mrs Scott had spoken of the difficult and "harrowing" 18 months her family had endured.

"So much has been taken away from us. Stephanie has had everything taken away from her," Mrs Scott said in October.

"Losing her has shattered so many lives and we are all struggling with the consequences."

Leeton High School cleaner Vincent Stanford was sentenced to life in prison last month for the murder of Ms Scott.