PORTLAND, Ore. - Hundreds of people gathered Tuesday at a northeast Portland Catholic Church to mourn the death of a popular priest.

Rev. Emmett B. Painter, who led the Madeleine parish for the last 10 years, died May 16. He was 63 and would have been 64 on June 3.

According to a fellow priest who was with Painter on May 16, he was playing golf when he complained he was not feeling well and left the game to return to his residence at the church.

According to a post on the church's Web site, Painter requested an assistant call 911 at 3 p.m. He was pronounced dead, likely from a heart attack, at 5:30 p.m.

Painter had fallen ill in November of 2007 and was diagnosed with a serious heart ailment. Following a recovery period, Painter had returned to the pulpit and other duties and seemed to be regaining his health. He was also taking required medications.

Painter was a dynamic speaker, often touching on varied topics in his Sunday homilies. He often spoke about popular culture, books, movies, current events, science and technology and how they fit into spiritual life.

Painter was a former Marine and also held a degree in philosophy. To many fellow priests and friends, he was known simply as "E.B."

Associates say he especially enjoyed his involvement with the many children that attended the attached parochial grade school, which serves grades 1 through 8.

On Tuesday, an overflow, standing-room only crowd filled the Madeleine church for Painter's funeral service. Dozens of priests from the Jesuit order also attended.

Burial details were not released.