James May

1943 - 2024

Obituary for James Lewis May, PhD

James Lewis May, PhD

October 29, 1943- January 12, 2024

James Lewis May (Dr Jim) died on January 12, 2024 in Wimberley, Texas after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born on October 29, 1943 in Houston, Texas, the son of Loretha Henderson May and James Alan May. He formed a life-long special bond with his grandfather, William Lewis Henderson (Dado), in his early years when he and his mother lived with Dado before his father returned home from fighting in the Japanese theater of World War II. James's family soon moved to Houston where he grew up. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Regina Cantwell, and one son Lewis Henderson May. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth O'Brien May, his children Travis May and his wife Wendy Ann May, Jonathan Borue May and his wife Mica Mojica May, his daughter Meredith May Peeler and her husband Andrew Peeler and his grandchildren Ian May, Jackson May, Madelyn May, Harper May, James Peeler and Charlotte Peeler, his mother-in-law Winnie O'Brien, sister-in-law Gwen Emmett and husband Judge Ed Emmett, and brother-in-law Thom O'Brien and wife Karen.

James graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science degree (with honors) in Industrial Engineering. He was awarded a National Science Foundation Traineeship to attend the University of Pittsburgh where he earned a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering (Engineering Management). He worked for the next twelve years as a Computer Engineer and Management Consultant. Later in his life he earned a PhD from Texas Tech University in Marriage and Family Therapy - and found his true vocation. He was blessed to be in private practice in Midland for almost 30 years. He was always glad to share his knowledge with others. As the Director of the Family Wellness Center he conducted numerous seminars and workshops for various churches and organizations on parenting, child development, adult children of alcoholics, co-dependency, psychosocial aspects of cancer, stress management, attention deficit disorder, and professional unemployment. Professionally he was a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (Texas), Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (Texas), and American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (Clinical Member).

After retiring and moving to Wimberley he continued to be active in his church serving on the Vestry of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, the school board of St. Stephen's Episcopal School and in a variety of other church roles. While in Midland, Dr. May was very active in the community serving: Hospice of Midland (Past President), Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity (Past Vestry Member), American Cancer Society of Midland (Past Board Member), Midland Memorial Hospital (Past Board of Trustees Member), Allison Cancer Center Committee Member, Premier Health Plan (Past Director), Clearview Hospital (Past Board Member), Midland Fair Havens (Past Board Member), Permian Basin Center for Battered Women (Past Board Member), Leadership Midland (Past Advisory Board Chairman), March of Dimes (Past Board Member), Rotary Club (Past Board Member), United Way of Midland (Past Long Range Planning Committee Chairman), Midland Country Club (Past President, Tennis Association), and Midland Community Theater (Past Board Member).

Dr. May often said, "When I was blessed by Elizabeth agreeing to marry me, I was unaware that I would get a most loving and caring family too. My parents were deceased by the time Elizabeth and I wed and Elizabeth's parents, Winnie and T.B O'Brien became my "parents" for the next 50 plus years. What kind, generous and wonderful parents to me they were - a true blessing. I am also deeply grateful to Gwen and Ed Emmett for all of their unselfish support of Elizabeth and me; staying at their home for weeks at a time over the long course of chemotherapy at M.D. Anderson Hospital. I am deeply grateful to Elizabeth for all of her constant and sacrificial support during the many challenges of my illness - a true angel. I also wanted to thank Dr. G, Issa and A.Mathew NP, from M.D. Anderson for their care through my illness; and to Dr. Jason Smith of Texas Oncology Group for on-going support."

A memorial service will be held at St. Stephens Episcopal Church on January 27th at 2pm.

I lieu of flowers, if you wish to do so, please make contributions to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church or St. Stephen's Episcopal School (Wimberley, Texas), or to the charity of your choice.