LEWISTON – Elsmore O. “Bud” Craig, 85, of 62 Gammon Ave., Auburn, went to be with the Lord, Friday, Jan. 9, at Central Maine Medical Center with his loving family by his side.

He was born in Masardis Jan. 14, 1923, the son of Elsmore and Serena (Rockwell) Craig. He was educated in Masardis schools.

On Aug. 6, 1947, he married Martell Joyce Bragdon, the love of his life. They made their home in Masardis before settling in Auburn in 1964.

Bud worked as a carpenter all his life, mentoring others interested in learning the trade. He worked on many homes for family members and always had a woodworking project in progress.

He was a storyteller and enjoyed sharing his stories with family and friends. In recent years, he wrote poems of years gone by, often with his children or grandchildren as the subject. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and gathering in his winter supply of wood. Mostly, he enjoyed the time he spent at camp with his family and brother; playing cards and time spent with great-grandson, Noah, who always called him “Pa.”

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Martell J. Craig; two sons, John and his wife, Noella, of Masardis, and Elsmore “Butch” and his wife, Gail, of Minot; seven daughters, Gloria M. Wyatt of Mayo, S.C., Etta and her husband, the Rev. Dr. L. Harry Soucy, of Lee, Diana and her husband, Brian Collins, of Auburn, Mary and her husband, Gerard Levesque, of Inman, S.C., Phyllis Greer of Boiling Springs, S.C., Penny Craig and her companion, Dana Gallant, of Auburn, and Jean and her husband, George Coolidge, of Poland; 31 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Pearl Sampson of South Paris and Ivy Merrill of Casco; a sister-in-law, Lois Watt of Lisbon; three brothers-in-law, Arthur Bragdon and his wife, Phyllis, of Oxford, Clair Bragdon and his companion, Eunice, of Hafford, N.Y., Clive Bragdon and his wife, Lona, of Masardis, and Donald Bragdon of Stockton Springs; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was predeceased by his parents; his only brother and best friend, Clifford “Kip” Craig; four sisters, Hattie Turner, Mary Taylor, Ruby Craig, and Idella Nickerson; and two very dear grandchildren, Paul Andre Levesque and Sara Beth Raymond.

He was a family icon and will be deeply missed by his entire family.