Margaret C. May

Margaret C. May
January 16, 1920 ~ August 17, 2014
Resident of Danville
Margaret ("Mimi") May died at her home in Danville, CA. She was born in Milo, Maine, and at the age of 2, moved with her parents to Hollywood where she graduated from Hollywood High and attended USC, remaining a loyal Trojan to the end. Margaret married John May on June 27, 1941, who shortly thereafter joined the US Army Air Corps to become a B-24 pilot in the South Pacific. Margaret and John moved to Danville in 1951, where they raised 5 daughters, Diana (Deedy) Ogden, Susan Foord, Marilyn Gardner, Barbara McMahon and Melinda Malin. Both of them loved their family and their community, volunteering countless hours in school, civic and philanthropic activities. As an inseparable team, they worked tirelessly to see the incorporation of the Town of Danville, and became the "First Couple" of the town when John became its first mayor. Together, and with their daughters, they ran The Shoe Stable stores in Danville, Lafayette and Pleasanton for 30 years, and Margaret created her own catering business, May Day Catering. John preceded Margaret in death in 1994. She remained involved on the boards of Hospice of the East Bay and The John Muir Health Foundation.
Her love for family defined Margaret's life. Just 2 weeks before her death, her daughters held a family picnic at Hap Magee Park in Danville where she was surrounded by them, their spouses, her 10 grandchildren and her 2 great-grandchildren. She died at peace leaving all who survive her with sweet memories of Thursday night family dinners at the Shoe Stable, daughters' weddings at home, Super Bowl parties, overcooked vegetables, countless gin rummy hands, and a life well lived.
A celebration of Margaret's life will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 902 Danville Boulevard, Alamo, at 1:30 pm on Saturday, August 23. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of The East Bay or The John Muir Health Foundation.