CAMDEN — Martha Jane King, 83, died Jan. 20, 2013, at Knox Center for Long Term Care in Rockland.

Jane was born in Wellsville, N.Y., Feb. 19, 1929, the only child of Neva E. (Wyant) and John W. Sawyer.

She grew up in Bolivar, N.Y., attended local schools and graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology. As a young woman she lived in Washington D.C., West Covina, Calif., and Berea, Ohio. In Berea, she worked at Baldwin Wallace College. Jane, her husband, William J. Bromley, and their three children moved to Camden in 1967. William passed away in August 1969. Jane married Dr. Merrill J. King Jr., in October 1970. The blended Bromley–King families then resided in West Rockport.

Jane served on the board of trustees of the Penobscot Bay Medical Center for several years; from 1983–1985 she was chairman of the Board. She was active in the PenBay Auxiliary, and in 1976 chaired the auxiliary's annual Christmas Fair. Jane was a member of the Camden Garden Club and served as president. She was a dedicated and faithful member of St. Thomas' Episcopal Church in Camden, and was involved in many capacities, particularly the vestry, serving in both the junior and senior warden positions. Her family kidded her that her "job" was volunteering at St. Thomas'.

Jane was an accomplished cook in the French gourmet tradition of Julia Child. Meals were a joy — savory food, served with stimulating conversation and humor — and the holidays were heavenly. Jane kept beautiful gardens. She loved day lilies and her butterfly bush. She delighted in excursions to Phillip White's day lily farm in Monroe. She faithfully followed the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots on TV; she enjoyed watching tennis and golf – especially golf tournaments played in sunny, green southern locales during Maine's late winter. Jane was an avid reader, particularly the mysteries of Lilian Jackson Braun and Donna Leon; for many years she was a regular patron of the Rockport Library. Most of all, Jane enjoyed and loved her children, grandchildren, and the family's pets, Kara and Hisso.

Jane is survived by her husband, Dr. Merrill J. King Jr., a resident at the Knox Center; by her daughter, Denise Stadler and her husband, Mark, of Camden; her daughter, Merrie McLaughlin of Brockport, N.Y.; her daughter, Kristina King and her husband, Kerry Hardy, of Rockland; her son, Stefan King of Belmont, Mass.; her son, William Bromley and his wife, Cheryl, of Hillsboro Beach, Fla.; and her six grandchildren.

Jane's family is thankful for the compassionate care she received from the second floor staff at the Knox Center; their humor, dedication and love toward their patients are evident and appreciated.

A memorial service will be held at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church in Camden in early April and will be announced.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Thomas' Episcopal, P.O. Box 631, Camden, ME 04843; Rockport Public Library, P.O. Box 8, Rockport, ME 04856; or to the activity department at Knox Center for Long Term Care, 6 White St., Rockland, ME 04841.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the King family by visiting their book of memories at www.longfuneralhomecamden.com.

Arrangements are with Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Camden.