LEWISTON – Leon M. Norris, 86, of Field Avenue , Auburn, died at Central Maine Medical Center, Sunday, Dec. 19.

He was born in Lewiston on Dec. 14, 1918, the son of Merton B. and Laura (Boynton) Norris.

He attended Ricker Classical Institute and graduated from New Gloucester High School. He also was a graduate of Bliss College and took classes at Central Maine Technical Center.

He enlisted into the U.S. Army in 1942 as part of the Signal Corps in the European Theater and was honorably discharged in 1945.

On July 22, 1947, he married Jane Parsons in the High Congregational Church and they always made their home in Auburn.

He was employed by the City of Auburn Fire Department as a career firefighter for 25 years. He retired as lieutenant in 1977. Following retirement, he spent ten years as curator and executive secretary to the Androscoggin Historical Society.

He was a member of the High Street Congregational Church. He was a member of the Lewiston/Auburn Rotary Club for many years, the Maine Historical Society, the Maine Audubon Society, and while working with the fire department he was an active member of the Auburn Fire Prevention Program.

He enjoyed working in his flower garden and loved flowers. He loved wildlife and especially enjoyed feeding the birds and squirrels. He was handy at repairing anything that needed fixing around his home. He enjoyed the outdoors, traveling and time spent in the company of friends and family.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years; his daughter, Janice G. Norris of Norway; grandsons, Nathan and Christopher Fairchild; son-in-law, Stephen Fairchild and his wife, Carol Dennis, of Lewiston; sisters, Theda Coombs and husband, Clarence, of Arizona, and Audrey Martin of California; brother, Richard Norris and his wife, Dorothy, of Arizona; and several neices and nephews.

He was predeceased by his daughter, Linda Norris Fairchild, M.D.