Paul Stanley May

 

Paul Stanley May, 90, beloved husband of Nancy Nickles May passed away on Friday, January 10, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born in his childhood home in Donalds, SC on April 19, 1934, to Fred and Lucile May. 

Growing up, he learned carpentry and home building from his father and became a self-taught skilled mechanic, motivated by his love for all things mechanical, especially cars and motorcycles. He also acquired an antipathy for gardening, in deep contrast to his parents’ love for it. 

He was inducted into the Army on November 5, 1955, completed basic training at Fort Jackson, SC, and served the remainder of his service at Fort Benning, GA, where he became a sergeant in the Military Police, appropriately riding a Harley Davidson as a motorcycle cop. He received an Honorable Discharge with a Good Conduct Medal on November 1, 1957. Following full-time service, he spent two years in the Army Reserves serving with an MP company in Greenwood, SC.

After his discharge, he returned to home-building and carpentry with his father until he was encouraged by a customer, a faculty member at Erskine College, to apply to Erskine, which he did. While working toward a BA, he met and married the love of his life, Nancy Nickles, with whom he shared a romantic relationship for over 65 years.

Beginning as a bench chemist at Table Rock Laboratories in Greenville, SC, he steadily advanced in his career, spending the last 20 years of his working life as Plant Manager of Pharmaceutical Associates Inc. at Donaldson Center.

He was a man of deep faith, serving as an active member of Reedy River Presbyterian Church for over 57 years, in many roles, including Deacon, Elder, Choir Director, and Sunday School teacher. In recent years, he and Nancy attended Bethesda Methodist Church in their hometown of Powdersville.

In addition to his loving wife, he is survived by three children; Stanley May (Mary Berry) of Penrose, NC, Cathy Finch (Doug) of Pensacola, FL, and Cristi Edwards (John) of Poughkeepsie, NY; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Greenville Presbyterian Church, 205 Greenville Church Rd., Donalds, SC 29638. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM following the visitation. Burial will follow in Greenville Presbyterian Church Cemetery located on the same property as the church. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethesda United Methodist Church at 516 Piedmont Rd, Easley, SC 29642 or online at bethedsaumc.org.

Let us celebrate a life well-lived and a legacy that will endure for years to come by those who knew and loved him. 

Visit RobinsonFuneralHomes.com or Robinson Funeral Home & Crematory - Powdersville Road, Easley.