James Jerome May

Obituary for James Jerome May aka Grandpa JJ
(Written mostly in his own words.)


I was born in Iron or Iron Junction, Minnesota on February 28, 1926, at 1:30 am. If you received mail it was "Iron" and if you received railroad express it was "Iron Junction". I was delivered by Mrs. Young who was the wife of the depot agent and lived across the tracks. She was the town midwife. Dr. Efrotes came down from Eveleth the next morning on the train going to Hibbing and turned around and went back to Eveleth. On that turn around, he determined that both mother and son were ok. I was born in an apartment above the Stoneybrook Bar located next to where my father, Stephen Paul May, was building our new home in Iron, Minnesota. I excelled through 6th grade in the Iron School where my mother, Margaret Ann Keaveny May, was a teacher. I had one younger sibling, Eugene Travers May, who preceded me in death.

My father was mayor and my mother was village clerk and I turned the street lights on and off every night. There were two lights. Iron's population was 129. As a footnote, during WWII, four of our friends were killed in action.

Following the superb performance at Iron School, I attended junior high at Cherry Consolidated Rural School. I then went to Eveleth Junior High for 9th grade and attended the Eveleth Schools through Junior College. During my service in the Army, I attend the University of Iowa.

Following my service, I had enough credits to be a sophomore and attended Duluth State Teacher's College subsequently called University of Minnesota, Duluth. Mr. May's major in college was to become a professional curmudgeon and world class bull shitter. I then attended the University of Minnesota where I belonged to both social and professional fraternities, played hockey, and finished in 1950 when I married my childhood sweetheart, Barbara Ann Murray, on July 17, 1950. We had three children – Cynthia McCall, Daniel Howard, and Cathleen Anne.

I went into the insurance business. I became a branch manager for the Mutual Service Insurance Company. We moved to Marshall, Minnesota where we lived for the next five years.

We moved to Colorado Springs in 1957. I purchased a small insurance agency and changed its name to the James J. May Insurance Agency. We subsequently built an office building known as the May Building at the northeast corner of Airport Road and Circle Drive. The agency was sold in 1990. Our residence was at the Valley Hi Country Club, only three blocks from the office. We were early members of said country club.

I belonged to several hunting clubs on the east and western slopes. I hunted geese, ducks, pheasants, and girls.

I had homes in both Breckenridge and Scottsdale. In short, I had the most life has to give. I have three well educated children.

I was a charter member and charter secretary of East Colorado Springs Rotary Club, later becoming President and a Paul Harris Fellow. I became a member of the Pikes Peak Range Riders in 1965 and later served as President. I worked as Chairman on the Colorado Springs Board of Adjustments and the Colorado Springs Planning Commission. I have been a member of the Colorado Springs El Paso Club since 1962 and am also a member of the American Legion of VFW. I served 27 months in the U.S. Army, from January 1944 to April 1946, and was part of the 117th Regiment of the 30th Infantry Division.

I am survived by my three children – Cynthia McCall May, her husband Gregg Applegate, granddaughter Elizabeth Clavier, her husband Donnie Clavier and great grandchildren Madeline, Aiden, and Elaina; grandson Daniel May-Applegate, his wife Danielle May-Applegate and great grandson Byron; and granddaughter Keaveny Anne May-Applegate; my son Daniel Howard May, his wife Leslie May, and grandsons Matthew Blonder and Alex May; and my daughter Cathleen (Ba) May Hoffman, her husband Philip Hoffman and grandsons Michael and Ryan Hoffman. I am also survived by my brother Eugene's wife Jackie May and their children – Michelle May Otteman, Renee May Guidobono, Eugene May, Melissa May Hoffmann, and Mary Margaret May Frederick; my dear friend Mary MacArthur Massey; and my close companion Marguerite Duncan and her daughter Lisa Duncan Waples, her husband Rick Waples and grandchildren Duncan, Madison, and Collin Waples; and daughter Pamala Duncan Capps, her husband Scott Capps, and grandson Mason Capps.

JJ passed away peacefully in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Friday, December 9, 2016. A celebration of his life is scheduled for Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 10:00 am at the First United Methodist Church, 420 N. Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.

In lieu of flowers, consider making a contribution to either:

The Salvation Army
In 1944, my father gave me a check for $30 which was a sufficient amount of money to enable me to get a train, one way, from anywhere in the U.S. of A. back to Iron Junction. As I was going half way up the gang plank to go overseas in the infantry, they were calling out people in the G's and suddenly jumped to my name in the M's. They had to stop people going up the gang plank so I could go down. I was informed that my father was seriously ill with a ruptured appendix, not expected to live. They asked me if I would like a furlough for three days to go home and see him. I had to cash the check to go home. I went to the Red Cross and they refused to take a third party check. I went over to the Salvation Army and told them about my problem and she had me endorse the check and gave me $30 without comment. She said even though I had the check, they would have given me $30! I rang the bell for the Salvation Army for many years to return the favor.

908 Yuma Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
Telephone: 1-719-636-3891
Email:Richard.Larson@usw.salvationarmy.org
Website: http://coloradosprings2.salvationarmy.org/


The Colorado Talking Book Library
I loved to read. Despite the gradual fading of my eyesight, the Colorado Talking Book Library allowed me to continue reading books by listening to tapes.

180 Sheridan Boulevard
Denver, CO 80226
Telephone: 1-303-727-9277
Website: www.myctbl.org


Discover Goodwill Foundation
Goodwill provided personal care services at the end of my life making it possible for me to live independently.

1460 Garden of the Gods Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Telephone: (719) 381-9489
Website: www.DiscoverMyGoodwill.org



Myron Stratton Home
Donations will support senior residents.

555 Gold Pass Heights
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Telephone: (719) 579-0930