BETHEL – James Timothy Keith died on Saturday morning, Feb. 9.

Jim battled courageously for two years before dying of cancer at the age of 45.

He was born and grew up in Massachusetts, graduating from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School in 1980. He began college at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts, transferring to Unity College in Maine. He graduated from Unity in 1985, with a major in outdoor recreation, which included a trip to Scotland to ice climb.

He married Celeste Plasse on Sept. 15, 1985. He and Celeste settled on Cape Cod and Jim worked as an apprentice finish carpenter for J.R. Shaw Construction. They moved to Bethel in 1990, and he started J.T. Keith Construction in 1993. He was known to be a skilled carpenter and shared his training with many young carpenters. He built many beautiful homes in and around Bethel, with a renovation recognized by an award from the Bethel Historical Society.

He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. In addition to his many hunts in Maine, he also hunted caribou in Labrador and bowhunted elk in Colorado this last September. Since Jim’s diagnosis two years ago, he continued to live life to its fullest, taking his family on two cruises, skiing, hunting, fishing and building a hunt camp.

He leaves behind his loving wife of 22 years, Celeste Keith; and two wonderful children, Andrew James (AJ), and Lindsey Nadine. He also leaves five siblings, Thomas Keith and wife, Mary, of Damariscotta, Polly Keith and husband, Don Hillard, of Montana, Jeanne Worrick and husband, Michael, of Massachusetts, Nancy Keith and husband, John Lacer, of North Carolina and Robert Keith of Massachusetts; as well as many nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

Jim has touched many people with his warm, kind ways and will be remembered as a loving husband, father, brother and friend to many. He will be missed by all.