AUBURN – John E. Proctor, 59, of O’Connell Street, Lewiston, ascended to his Lord after a six-year battle with cancer on Dec. 4.

He was born in Waterville on Jan. 15, 1948, the son of Doris and Edward John Proctor. He was educated in Waterville schools and was a graduate of automotive engineering in Boston.

He loved nature and was the happiest out in nature and the woods. He was an avid fisherman and hunter. He loved romping on the beach with family and his stepchildren.

He was a first sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a Vietnam combat veteran from 1968 to 1970. In the service, he was a member of the Elite Honor Guard. He was also a member of the 1996 Carpenter and Millwrights Union of New England. He was the first chief of police in Norridgewock.

He married the former Roberta Pineau on Feb. 12, 1972, in Skowhegan. He loved his three stepchildren as his own; Michael Pineau and his wife, Karen, of Connecticut, Jacqueline Elliott and her husband, Michael, of Scarborough and Annette Cormier and her husband, Mark, of Hampden; six stepgrandchildren whom he loved dearly, Cameron Elliott, 17, Cassandra Elliott, 15, Stephen Cormier, 14, Miss Mariah Cormier, 10, Matthew Pineau, 13, and Douglas Pineau, 10.

He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, George and Gertrude Proctor; and parents, Doris and Edward Proctor.

His family wishes to thank Central Maine Medical Center and The Androscoggin Hospice House for the excellent care they received.