Tributes

MAY Thomas Joseph Joe May, Sr. went home to the Lord and to join his wife, daughter and son in Heaven on June 17, 2013. Joe lived fearlessly for over 94 years and had a wonderful life filled with loving family, friends, sports and a love for life. Having lived independently until the very end, his daughter, Mary Jean May George, spent every evening with him and made sure he didn't sleep through any Spurs games or miss a chance to cheer the Spurs on to victory. Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Nancy McHugh May, his oldest daughter, Barbara May Kotzebue his only son, Thomas Tom Joseph May, Jr., and son-in-law, W.E. Bill Kotzebue, Jr.. Our family enjoyed our summers by traveling to 48 of the 50 states in a small trailer and saw many wonderful and beautiful sites in the US – he never wanted his family to miss anything important or to look back on their lives and not have wonderful memories. Joe loved fishing, hunting, golf, playing gin rummy at the golf shop at Brackenridge, driving his motor home to Gunnison, CO every spring and visiting friends and family along the way. We never wanted for anything, because he was a wonderful father to us kids and gave us every advantage and all of his support. Joe came to San Antonio in 1945 and was the Texas Territory Manager for Lifetouch then called National School Studios. If you went to school in San Antonio, Houston, El Paso, the Rio Grande Valley and all small towns surrounding those cities, during the late 1940's to the mid 1980's Joe May, "the Picture Man", likely took your picture in school to chronicle your years growing up. Joe was hired by one of the founders of National School Studios, Eldon Rothgeb, in 1943, right after returning from the war and moved to Texas as the new territory manager. Joe and Lee Calfee made Texas a powerhouse territory in the new company for years. He served on the Advisory Board as the company grew towards international status. His wife, Nancy McHugh May, did the office work from home and kept the kids in line while Joe traveled all over Texas taking pictures. After retiring, his son, Tom May and his wife Teresa Anderson May took over the territory from his dad and continued to build an even greater legacy on the solid foundation Joe had established. Amanda George Fletcher currently is the Finance Manager with Lifetouch and continues the proud family tradition in the school picture business. Joe came from a family of 6 children all of whom have passed before him with the exception of his younger sister; Alice May Mikolasek & her husband Frank. Joe's parents William F. May and Jennie Ledder May preceded him in death along with his siblings Donald May, Mary May Mikolasek, Chester May, and Bill May. After his wife died 28 years ago, Joe became reacquainted with a high school sweetheart, Ginger Marcolini, and they spent 18 happy years together before Ginger's family ties took her back to Hillsboro, IL where they grew up. Their relationship continued through e-mails and phone calls and they shared a love of the Spurs, ballroom dancing and each other. Joe is survived by his daughter Mary Jean May George and granddaughter Amanda George Fletcher and husband Brian C. Fletcher, his oldest daughter Barbara's two daughters, Elizabeth Kotzebue Rhoden and fiancé Thomas Hagen, Kimberly Kotzebue Ahlstrom and husband John Ahlstrom, great granddaughter Courtney Rhoden, and daughter-in-law Teresa Anderson May and various nieces and nephews spread from California to Illinois. A special thanks to caregivers Frances and David and also, Cima Hospice. Our family asks that in lieu of flowers, a donation to your favorite animal rescue charity be made in the name of Thomas Joe May, Sr. Please join us to celebrate his life with a visitation on Thursday, June 20, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North. His Graveside Service will begin at 10:00 AM on Friday, June 21, 2013 at Mission Burial Park North.

Tributes

Thomas "Joe" May, Sr.

December 25, 1918 - June 17, 2013