Willard Louis May

Rev. Willard Louis May, 83, of Costa Mesa, CA, went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, August 6, 2016,

Willard (Bill) was born February 2, 1933, in Buffalo, NY. He attended college at 16 years of age and graduated with a pastoral degree from Nyack College and earned a degree in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University. Before moving to California in 1960, he was a pastor for various churches and was heavily involved in music. He directed and appeared on radio and TV shows, drove a taxi and owned two grocery stores with his loving wife, Shirley. After moving to California, he continued his pastoral and music ministry. This led him to form and direct a highly rated choir group that traveled throughout the United States. He had a passion for developing musical arrangements for small vocal and musical ensembles. He was always at his piano writing music and working on his arrangements, which he took great pride in creating.

Soon his passion for teaching led him and his wife to found Huntington Valley Christian High School, which later became known as Newport Christian Junior and Senior High School and Copre Elementary School. This was notably one of his most cherished accomplishments. His devotion to college prep education and the spiritual growth of his students was undeniable. Newport Christian became known as one of the best college prep schools around. He had a singular knack for finding the best people in the field of education that shared the same passion as he. After his retirement (which didn’t last very long) he and his wife founded Long Beach Marine Institute in 1988, which combined his lifelong love of the ocean and boats with his passion for education. LBMI is widely regarded as one of the finest marine science educational programs around and is part of his enduring legacy.

Over the last few years, he found great joy in sharing his passion for music with his granddaughter Grace and he loved talking with her for hours about music and performing. He also loved collecting pine cones and creating ornate art pieces out of them. He often remarked on how he could see the beauty in nature and he wanted to create beauty as well. He adored his Cavalier King Spaniel Katie and had a soft spot for all animals. He loved to talk to people, would say hi to anyone and had amazing sense of humor.

He is survived by his sister Shirley (May) Smith, his son Daryl M. May, his daughter Karen Marie May Shackelford, son in law Dwight E. Shackelford, Jr.; Grandchildren April (May) McGinnis her husband Michael McGinnis and Grace Noelle Shackelford; Great granddaughters Taylor, Brittain and Emma McGinnis.

He is preceded in death by his wife Shirley Ann (Colton) May, daughter Debbie Marie May, brother Joseph May and his parents Willard and Coralyn May.

A graveside service will be held at 3:00 pm Saturday, August 20, 2016, at the Rose Hills Cemetery in Whitter, CA.