Fred May, devoted husband and proud father, left this earth to join his wife in heaven on November 3, 2005 at his home in Sheridan. He also joined his beloved grandchildren Stephen Hunter, and Shannon and Wendy Brown. He will be dearly missed by his four adoring children Beverly Wells, Helen Bounds, Charles May and Freda Brown all of Sheridan.

Mr. May was very blessed in his life with an abundance of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They are Lang, Anne, Hudson and Rivers Wells; Janna and Keith Koon and daughter Kati Jones; Tobi, Carter, and Ellison Fairley; Amy, Austin and Alysse McMahan; Gary, Melissa, Brockton, and Elizabeth Brown; and Scott, Faith, Collin, and Bryce Boatright.

Fred Cleveland May was born in Texarkana, Arkansas on January 20, 1919 to Dennis Harold May and Lura C. Kirby May. The oldest of 6 children he was preceded in death by brothers Tony May and Paul May and his parents and is survived by siblings Jack T. May, Martha Taylor and Delphia Puckett all of Sheridan. Mr. May spent his childhood in Texas where he attended school before entering the Merchant Marines. He lived most of his adult life in Sheridan, Arkansas where he met and married his wife of 55 years Geraldine Brewer May and raised their four children. He gave more than 30 years of service to C & L Electric as a lineman and district office manager before retiring to enjoy his favorite pastime, fishing. A gifted electrician and electronic genius, Mr. May also spent many hours after retirement in his workshop.

A truly dedicated member of Calvary Baptist church, Mr. May served in almost every imaginable capacity including serving on numerous committees and actually physically building the church buildings alongside the other members. Known as the "resident expert" on the history of Calvary Baptist, Mr. May was one of the first to be baptized after the formation of the church, but his humble nature kept him from ever being a teacher and also led him to turn down the invitation to become a church deacon, leaving that position for others that he thought were more worthy. He had a love for Christian hymns and could often be heard humming and singing old favorites like "precious memories".

No man has ever lived that was more devoted to his Family, his church and his country. He set a fine example for his children and his church through his hard work, his kind and giving spirit and his extreme faith in and love for God, his wife, his family and his friends. Everyone who knew him looked up to him, admired him and many called him not only their friend and "fishing buddy" but their Hero. His playful and joking personality made him a favorite not only to his family but also to his community. A void will definitely be left in the hearts of the many, many people who loved him and it is as a light-hearted and jovial man that he will be remembered. Mr. May is also survived by his sons-and-law Dan Brown, David Wells and Ronnie Thomason all of Sheridan and a multitude of very dear friends.

Pallbearers for the funeral service are grandsons Lang Wells, Gary Brown and Carter Fairley and close friends Juan Caple, Robert Ashcraft and Kenny Evans. Funeral Services will be held Saturday November 5, 2005 at 2:00 pm at Calvary Baptist Church. Ministers for the service will be Reverend Terry Williams and Reverend Vance Nutt with interment at New Hope Cemetery. Visitation for friends and family is at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home on Friday, November 4th from 6:00 to 8:00pm. In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund at P.O. Box 34 Sheridan, AR 72150 or to the Arkansas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association which Mr. May generously supported in honor of his wife at 10411West Markham, suite 130 Little Rock, AR 72205.
Arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan (870)942-1306. To sign the online guestbook, www.memorialgardenssheridan.com.