FAIRFIELD – The Rev. Keith Eugene Smith, 83, passed away Sunday, June 14, 2009, at Cedar Ridge Nursing Home, Skowhegan. He was born May 10, 1926, in Corinna, son of the late Archie and Helen (Curtis) Smith. Keith was a graduate of Lawrence High School, Fairfield, in 1943 and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Nazarene College, Quincy, Mass., in 1948. He graduated magna cum laude from Nazarene Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Mo., with a Master of Divinity degree in 1952. This was followed by a Master of Sacred Theology from Boston University School of Theology. Later he attended Hartford Seminary Foundation, Hartford, Conn., studying toward the doctorate with emphasis on church history. He held a summer pastorate in Methodist Church, Missouri City, Mo., in 1951 and pastored Mystic Side Congregational Church, Everett, Mass., while studying at Boston University. In 1955 he founded Church of the Nazarene, Bingham. He taught in the public schools while pastoring in Bingham. He pastored First Church of the Nazarene, Hartford, Conn., for 35 years, from 1965 to 2000. At age 74, he retired in the town of his youth, Fairfield. Keith’s wife, Reba (Eshleman) Smith, was paralyzed for 23 years before the Lord took her home. He cared for her these years in the Hartford Parsonage. He is survived by their son, Theodore Marshall and his wife, Bonilu, and their daughter, Heather Miranda and husband, Ben, all of San Bernardino, Calif. Keith leaves his second wife, Elisabeth; and her three children, James Davis and wife, Irene, of Oakland, Deborah Grignon and husband, Reimond, of Palmyra and Barbara Davis of Skowhegan; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and one brother-in-law, Everett Lidstone and wife, Betty, of Bingham. He is also survived by one brother, the Rev. Ernest D. Smith and wife, Astrid, of Stephentown, N.Y.; five sisters, Elizabeth Rich of Union, Dorothy Dinsmore and husband, Raymond, of Union, Wilma Jackson of Union, Cheryl Paddock of Vassalboro and Helen Linkletter and husband, Scot, of Athens; many nephews and nieces. Visiting hours will be 6-8 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, 107 Main St., Fairfield. A funeral service will be held 5 p.m. Sunday, June 21, at Church of the Nazarene, 81 Main St., Fairfield, with the Rev. David Giles officiating. Graveside services will be held at a later date at Maplewood Cemetery, Fairfield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of Church of the Nazarene, 81 Main St., Fairfield, ME 04937. Arrangements are by Lawry Brothers Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 107 Main St., Fairfield. Condolences may be expressed at www.lawrybrothers.com.
REV. KEITH EUGENE SMITH
