Lela A. May's Obituary
Lela A. May, 100, of Boonville answered the call of the Lord on Monday, June 13, 2011 at Lakeview Healthcare Center in Boonville. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, June 18, 2011 at Morgan St. Baptist Church. Burial in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12-2 pm Saturday at the church.
Lela was born January 5, 1911 in Cleaver, Mo. the daughter of Henry Patterson and Hattie Clarkston Patterson.
She joined Morgan St. Baptist Church at an early age, probably in high school. She said she would have joined earlier but she liked to dance and she thought she could not dance if she joined church. At Morgan Street Baptist Church she worked with Vacation Bible School, BTU, the Choirs, Circle # 3, The Sunbeams, Red Circle, and was a member of The Central District. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Assn. Lela was also a member of the Eastern Star and was a past Worthy Matron of Princess Leah Chaper # 107 OES.
She taught school for 40 years before retiring. She taught at Bellair, Gooch’s Mill, Speed, Bunceton and Fayette.
She married Herbert Allen on July 29, 1939 and he died on January 6, 1951. She married Holwell J. May and he died on May 7, 1974. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Eula Nelson and Irene Miller, two brothers William Patterson and Owen Patterson, her aunt Ida Hardiman who raised her after the death of her parents, her cousins/sisters Ida Hardiman and Dorothy Hogan and her step-son H.T. May.
She leaves to cherish her memory two nieces, Pearl Allen of Boonville, and Rose Estill of Sedalia, her daughter-in-law Estelle May, four grandchildren Melodia Whitmore, Thomas E. May, Kathy May and Sherry Chapman, two first cousins Lillie Belle Smith and Nettie Frances Smith, they called her sister because they were raised together, eight great nieces Susan Stith, Denise Allen, Karen Hudson, Adrian Dixon, Anita Taylor, Sharon Hardwick, Teresa Smith and Patricia Shans, four great nephews Frankie Allen, John Wayne Smith, Howard Lee Estill and Charlie Brown. One play daughter Louise Smith and a host of great-great nieces, nephews , cousins and friends.
Lela will be sadly missed by her family, students and friends. We will miss her deep dimples and sweet smile. She was always willing to lend a helping hand and open her heart to any one in need. One of her greatest joys in life was working in church and being with her family.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Morgan St. Baptist Church Building Fund
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