July
10, 1923 - Jan. 16, 2010SOUTH BEND - Betty Jane "Boots" May, 86, a longtime resident of South Bend, IN, most recently of Springfield, MO, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 16, 2010. Boots was born in Gary, IN, July 10, 1923, to Beulah and Oren Earl Compton. She spent her early years in Hammond, IN, later attending Indiana University. She met a young Notre Dame law student, Arthur A. May, and on October 29, 1945, they were married. After seeing active service in the north Atlantic during World War II, Art was discharged from the US Navy, and Boots and Art settled in his hometown of South Bend, IN. There they began a long, active and service-centered life together -- Art as a partner at Crumpacker, May, Beamer, Levy and Searer (now May Oberfell Lorber) and Boots as the consummate hostess, entertaining clients, family and friends, both in South Bend and at the May summer cottage on Eagle Lake in Edwardsburg, MI. Boots was proud of her service to the South Bend community and participation as charter member of St. Michael and All Angels Church, member of St. Anne's Guild, Board Member of Visiting Nurses, Vice President of Service Guild, past president of Tri Kappa Sorority, Sigma Kappa Sorority, and a past member and president of Questers. Boots was an avid reader, bridge player, and antique collector, known for her memorable brownies, gracious hospitality, and ready sense of humor. She was a supportive and dedicated wife to Art for 57 years until his passing in 2002; a caring mother to her three sons and daughters-in-law; and a loving grandmother to five grandchildren. She cherished the special friendships that developed in over 60 years of the May family's presence in South Bend. Boots was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Virginia Lee Compton and Nancy Ann Compton Fassett; husband, Arthur A. May; and infant son, Ronald. She is survived by three sons, Christopher (wife Karen) of Modesto, CA, Robert (wife MaryAnn) of Springfield, MO, and Daniel (wife Caren) of Chapel Hill, NC, brother-in-law, Rev. Leroy Fassett of Highland, IN; sister-in-law, Lauretta May Buck; and five loving grandchildren, Colin (wife Mary) of Chesterton, IN, Jeanine of Walnut Creek, CA, Cecily of San Francisco, CA, and Samuel and Audre May of Springfield, MO. Boots also leaves several nieces and nephews. A memorial celebration in Boots' honor will be held during the summer when the family will gather as in summers past. Information will be posted at that time for friends wishing to attend. Boots will be interred at the family plot at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, IN. Arrangements are being handled by Klingner Cope Family Funeral Home in Springfield, MO, and Welsheimer North Funeral Home in South Bend, IN. In honor of Boots' lifelong passion for reading, any donations in her honor may be made to the St. Joseph County Public Library, either the River Park Branch, 2022 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend, IN 46615, or to the Roger B. Francis Branch, 52655 Ironwood Road, South Bend, IN 46635. Contributions in her name will be designated to purchase large print and audio books for the library's collections.