LIBERTY – On July 14, 2006, Hubby left Smoochie after 57 years of marriage. Keith Bennett Cram, 86, passed away, surrounded by his loving family, at his home. Keith was born Jan. 18, 1920, one of seven children born to Sherman and Bernice Cram. His class of 1939 had the distinction of being the first graduating class from Walker School in Liberty. Keith played basketball in high school and continued playing after graduating on the town’s team, named The Hudson Commodores. Keith joined the Marine Corp. in 1941 and spent three and one half years during World War II “island hopping” in the Pacific, ranking as staff sergeant in field artillery. After his discharge in 1945, he joined the Marine Corp. League in Waterville, where he met his wife, Madeleine Roy, at a picnic. They were married Feb. 19, 1949. In 1950, Keith was recalled to serve in the Korean War where he served as a training officer at Camp Lejeune, N.C. For the town of Liberty, he was a selectman, a member of the Liberty Historical Society, a scout master, a lifetime member of the Liberty Amvets, a lifetime member of the VFW in Washington, Maine, a member of the Liberty Relief Association and organizer and grand marshall of the Liberty Memorial Parade. Keith’s first love and craft was as a carpenter. He also spent 17 years in the maintenance department at Keyes Fibre, Waterville, where he retired from in 1982. Since his retirement, Keith enjoyed woodworking, gardening and his most important passion: his family genealogy work, tracing his family line back to the 1600s. Keith was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed his time spent in the Kingdom, where he rebuilt the dam at Ira Pond. All his siblings, George, John, Sherman, Robert, Bessie Cram Boivin and Barbara Cram Creasey predeceased him. He is survived by his wife, Madeleine; son, Michael and wife, Gaye; daughter, Roxanne Newton and husband, Ronnie Jr. He was blessed with five grandchildren, Bethany Bartlett and husband, Dean, Lisa Hubbard and fiance, Bill Gillespie, Ben Cram and wife, Amanda, Sam Cram and wife, Lacy, and Katie Cram; three great-grandchildren, Chelsea, Brandon and Hunter; several nieces and nephews. A special thanks to nieces Peggy Sweet and Becky Higgins for all their love and support. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, July 20, at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Court Street, Belfast, with the Rev. Joseph Roy officiating. A luncheon and time for visiting with the family will be held noon-3 p.m. at Liberty Masonic Hall, at which the family will leave for a private burial at Mount Repose Cemetery, Montville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Waldo County Hospice, 119 Northport Ave., Belfast, ME 04915 or the Liberty Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 174, Liberty, ME 04949. Arrangements are under the care of Crabiel-Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Ave., Belfast.
KEITH BENNETT CRAM
