Harlan E. May

Harlan E. May was born on September 21, 1950 in Princeton, Missouri to Garel and Naomi (Hodges) May. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1968 in Des Moines, Iowa. He grew up with his 4 sisters & 4 brothers. As a young boy he had his own lawn mowing business to make extra spending money,

Harlan enjoyed playing all sports but wrestling was his special talent. After high school he went on to college at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri. He met his first love, Donna Turner, during his year of college life. They were married on June 14, 1969, He was happy to become a father to Dawn, Tina and Joann.

He left college to join Local 27 Asbestos Union & to eventually become a foreman. He spent 35 years working in his trade & retired in 2005. Shortly before he retired he lost Donna to a heart attack.

Harlan's hobbies included riding his bicycle in the MS150, gardening and painting beautiful pictures. Riding his bike was a great stress reliever for him. He was very proud of his tomato plants and the flowers he was able to grow. He definitely had a green thumb!

After Donna's death Harlan spent the next 5 years keeping busy with house projects, bike riding and taking painting classes & reading his bible. He was able to tell many stories from the bible and his faith was strong. He was also available to help his daughter Dawn with her young daughters while her husband was deployed overseas..

Harlan met the second love of his life in 2009 on a Christian dating site. Harlan married Delores Sudik on Ft. Walton Beach, Florida on February 20, 2010. The next 10 years were filled with travels all over the USA. Every winter was spent in Pensacola, Florida enjoying the beach and delicious seafood. They looked forward to sharing their love of the ocean with family and friends.

Harlan's health began to decline in 2017. He struggled with continuous issues that made him unable to travel and do the things he loved to do. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2023.

Harlan was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Donna, brothers Lawrence, Harold, Kenny and Richard & sister Theresa Shutt.

 He is survived by his second wife, Delores May and daughters Dawn Parvin (Rob), Tina Brodzinski (Jeff) and Joann Acuff (Brance) and stepson, Thomas Sudik. Left to remember him are his precious grandchildren, Alayna Parvin, Sage Parvin, Maddie Morton, Landon Brodzinski, Hunter Brodzinski and Kayci Brodzinski. He also survived by sisters, Karen Curnes, Sheila May and Ellen Mason along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation is 10 am, services at 11am on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at Gashland Presbyterian Church, 8029 N. Trafficway, Kansas City, MO. Grave site will be at Mound Grove Cemetery, Independence, MO.

Donations can be made to the Parkinson's Foundation, Luminos Hospice or Gashland Presbyterian Church.