Somewhere, in the cold waters of Lake Taneycomo, rainbow trout rest a little easier today.
For the one man who could pull them in by the record numbers has tossed his final cast.
He was once known as "Julie's Groom" for the time spent grooming horses before and after shows; applying Hoof Black, baby oil and baby powder to make the horses look their best.
In the end though, he will be best remembered as a really good "Pap-paw."
Charles Willard "Charlie" May, 70, passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at his home in Parsons.
Mr. May was born September 23, 1938 in Chetopa, Kan., to Harry L. "Sam" May and Dorothy Marie (Smith) May.
He was a 1956 graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont having grown up on a farm in rural Parsons.
After graduation, Mr. May lived in Wichita from 1956-1962 and served in the United States Army as a motor pool driver and later was active in the United States Army Reserve.
Mr. May married Jennie Mae Ellis January 21, 1962 in Parsons, Kansas.
Making their home in Parsons, Mr. May was employed as a truck driver for numerous companies during which time, Mr. and Mrs. May welcomed their two sons into the world, John and Shane.
After a stint working for REA Express in Kansas City, Mr. May and family returned to Parsons where he was self employed as a general contractor and the family grew with the addition of a third child, a daughter Julie.
In the years that followed, Mr. May, who had a deep appreciation of outdoor life and rural culture, enjoyed spending time with his son's quail hunting and fishing.
His knowledge and experience with horses grew into a passion he shared with his wife and daughter as the family become prominent figures in the Labette County 4-H Horse Club having raised and trained quarter horses through the 1980's and into the 1990's.
It was not uncommon for Charlie, Jennie and Julie to travel every weekend in the summer months to numerous horse shows, county fairs or state fairs.
In his later years, during which time Mr. May was employed by O'Brien Redi-Mix, he enjoyed annual trips to Roaring River State Park and Lake Taneycomo in Southwest Missouri where he shared his uncanny fishing skills with three grandsons – John Lee, Brandon and Jacob.
The four would often compete during a three-day weekend at Roaring River to see who could land the most trout – a healthy grandfather vs. grandson's challenge that more often than not ended with "The Master" triumphant.
Following his retirement, Mr. May's annual vacations included a spring trip to Roaring River and a fall getaway to Lake Taneycomo that had grown to include the entire family.
Having shared his love of fishing with his sons and grandsons, Mr. May was looking forward to extending the angler lineage with the addition of two young grandsons, Charles and Thomas.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Jennie, of the home; a brother Ronnie Lee May of Portland, Ore.; two sons, John Lee May, Sr. of Parsons and Shane Michael May of Joplin, a daughter, Julie Lynn Hull of Pittsburg; five grandchildren, John Lee May II, Brandon Wesley May and Jacob Frank May of Parsons and Charles Anvil Hull and Thomas David Hull of Pittsburg; two great granddaughters, Claire F. May and Abigail Lee May of Parsons.
Services will be held Monday, Aug. 3, 2009 at 10:30 a.m., at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3 p.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, at the funeral home.
The family requests memorials to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, Kansas 67357. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles W. "Charlie" May, please visit our flower store.
For the one man who could pull them in by the record numbers has tossed his final cast.
He was once known as "Julie's Groom" for the time spent grooming horses before and after shows; applying Hoof Black, baby oil and baby powder to make the horses look their best.
In the end though, he will be best remembered as a really good "Pap-paw."
Charles Willard "Charlie" May, 70, passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at his home in Parsons.
Mr. May was born September 23, 1938 in Chetopa, Kan., to Harry L. "Sam" May and Dorothy Marie (Smith) May.
He was a 1956 graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont having grown up on a farm in rural Parsons.
After graduation, Mr. May lived in Wichita from 1956-1962 and served in the United States Army as a motor pool driver and later was active in the United States Army Reserve.
Mr. May married Jennie Mae Ellis January 21, 1962 in Parsons, Kansas.
Making their home in Parsons, Mr. May was employed as a truck driver for numerous companies during which time, Mr. and Mrs. May welcomed their two sons into the world, John and Shane.
After a stint working for REA Express in Kansas City, Mr. May and family returned to Parsons where he was self employed as a general contractor and the family grew with the addition of a third child, a daughter Julie.
In the years that followed, Mr. May, who had a deep appreciation of outdoor life and rural culture, enjoyed spending time with his son's quail hunting and fishing.
His knowledge and experience with horses grew into a passion he shared with his wife and daughter as the family become prominent figures in the Labette County 4-H Horse Club having raised and trained quarter horses through the 1980's and into the 1990's.
It was not uncommon for Charlie, Jennie and Julie to travel every weekend in the summer months to numerous horse shows, county fairs or state fairs.
In his later years, during which time Mr. May was employed by O'Brien Redi-Mix, he enjoyed annual trips to Roaring River State Park and Lake Taneycomo in Southwest Missouri where he shared his uncanny fishing skills with three grandsons – John Lee, Brandon and Jacob.
The four would often compete during a three-day weekend at Roaring River to see who could land the most trout – a healthy grandfather vs. grandson's challenge that more often than not ended with "The Master" triumphant.
Following his retirement, Mr. May's annual vacations included a spring trip to Roaring River and a fall getaway to Lake Taneycomo that had grown to include the entire family.
Having shared his love of fishing with his sons and grandsons, Mr. May was looking forward to extending the angler lineage with the addition of two young grandsons, Charles and Thomas.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Jennie, of the home; a brother Ronnie Lee May of Portland, Ore.; two sons, John Lee May, Sr. of Parsons and Shane Michael May of Joplin, a daughter, Julie Lynn Hull of Pittsburg; five grandchildren, John Lee May II, Brandon Wesley May and Jacob Frank May of Parsons and Charles Anvil Hull and Thomas David Hull of Pittsburg; two great granddaughters, Claire F. May and Abigail Lee May of Parsons.
Services will be held Monday, Aug. 3, 2009 at 10:30 a.m., at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3 p.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, at the funeral home.
The family requests memorials to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, Kansas 67357. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Charles W. "Charlie" May, please visit our flower store.
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