AUBURN – Martin C. Keith, 85, of 143 Mill St., was called home by our Lord, Tuesday, April 17, after a long battle with lung disease.

He was born in Auburn, Jan. 30, 1922, the son of Harold and Ida (Bowie) Keith. He lived in Auburn all of his life. He attended Auburn schools and graduated from Edward Little High School in 1941.

He proudly served our country in the Navy during World War II, and was deployed to the South Pacific.

“Marty,” as his friends knew him, worked in area shops as a die maker until his retirement.

He married Laina S. Pulkkinen in May 1953.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Auburn.

For many years he and his family lived on Hotel Road in Auburn, where he enjoyed working in his vegetable gardens and other projects. He was an avid fly fisherman and loved the outdoors. Many of his trips took him to the Kibby Stream, Dead River and Chain of Ponds areas where he shared his enthusiasm with his wife and sons.

He was also a well known naturalist artist with focus on the birds and wildlife of Maine. His loving and gentle nature was reflected in his art. He exhibited his talents in many public art shows, including Portland, Norway and Lewiston. His works can be found in private collections across the United States and Europe.

He took great comfort in reading the Bible where his strong belief in God and his acceptance of Jesus Christ as being our Lord and Savior was strengthened. Being a soft-spoken man and having a gentle soul, he spread the message of salvation and touched many hearts in his life.

Survivors include, three sons, Kendall and his wife, Louise, of Milwaukie, Ore., Colby of Sabattus, and Kerry of Auburn; five grandchildren, Brian, Angela and Laura, of Oregon, Jason and his wife, Dawn, of Leeds, and Carly of North Waterboro; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife; and his brother, Russell Keith.