Obituaries

In Loving Memory of Betty Jean Keyes May, who passed away on October 2, 2018 & was born on March 9, 1929 in McKinney, Tx to William Eli and Zona Iness Reeder Keyes, Sr. She grew up on a farm east of McKinney, the oldest of four children. From a young age, she was mature and responsible. She was her mother's helper, doing chores and helping care for her younger three siblings. Betty was motivated and determined to be successful in her work and her life. She wanted more and she dedicated herself to working hard to earn it. She graduated from McKinney High School in December 1945 a semester early because she went to summer school. Shortly thereafter, she went to work for Abernathy and Abernathy, the premier law firm in McKinney, as the legal secretary to Jewel Abernathy, Jr. One of her highlights while working there was transcribing Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn's speech at the Lavon Reservoir Celebration and Dedication in 1947. She then had the opportunity to work at the McKinney VA Hospital in the legal records department. It was said that when she walked the halls delivering records, traffic stopped. It was around this time in September 1953 that a mutual friend set her up on a date with Thomas Kirk May, Sr, a handsome, fun-loving young pharmacist who knew no one in McKinney because he had just moved there to work at Smith Drug on the square. After he met Betty, he didn't really care if he met anyone else. They fell madly and immediately in love and married on January 3, 1954. They were deeply committed to each other their entire lives. In 1954, they moved to Sherman, Texas, where Big Kirk opened May Pharmacy, the real-deal drugstore, with a soda fountain that served the best cheeseburgers in town, ("May Burgers") and a beauty counter that sold Chanel #5 & Elizabeth Arden. Betts was right by his side helping him with the business and enjoying her Chanel #5. In 1954 they were blessed with a baby girl, Jena Lynn, and in 1956 with a baby boy, Thomas Kirk, Jr, who Jena affectionately named "T.Kirk." Betts was so many things: Caring-Devoted-Gentle-Giving-Kind-Loving-Sincere-Thoughtful-Warm-Funny and Stunningly Beautiful. She was the best: daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, friend and neighbor. She and Big Kirk loved each other, loved their kids, loved their friends and loved their life. It was a privilege to be a party to it. When Big Kirk was sick, she never left his side and she was devastated in 1995 when she lost her husband and soulmate to cancer. However, the immeasurable support and inclusivity she received from her wonderful friends in Sherman, along with the love from her family, kept her going and she found her own independent second chapter in life, a testament to her being. For those years, it became more a matter of Jena and T.Kirk fitting into her schedule than the other way around. On April 2, 1999, she began her favorite chapter as a doting grandmother when Thomas Kirk May, III, the joy of her life, was born. She loved babysitting and spending any free time with him. They were fast friends, with "Ninga" doing whatever Thomas wanted, including crawling around on the floor through tents, cooking up all kinds of concoctions and jointly hosting "Ninga-Thomas" parties, which became somewhat infamous, at her home in Sherman for her friends. Betts loved her daughter-in-law, Karen, and thought she could do no wrong. She was Team Karen from Day One, always supporting her decisions, never interfering. Karen loved her mother-in-law even more for it. She loved her friends, many of 60 years+, and the children of those friends and she had so many. She had a true gift for making everyone she met feel at ease. She loved life and saw the bright side in everything and the best in everyone. She especially loved having her home filled with family and friends. She was welcomed by all: women and men - young and old. When her kids were grown, she and Big Kirk became their best friends as well as their parents and they loved to spend time with Jena and T.Kirk and their friends in Dallas and their friends loved spending time with them. She was the best cook ever and famous for it - Everyone wanted Betts' food!! All of Jena and T.Kirk's friends in college waited for her and her food care packages to arrive and always wanted an invite home to Sherman for more. She loved cooking Thomas's favorites and he loved eating them. She was a member of countless clubs, some for 60+ years and served in many capacities: The Service League, The Rejebian Club, The Current Review Club, The Shakespeare Club and one of her favorites -- Doc's Dripping Springs Trap Club. She was a member of her beloved Bridge Club of 8 for over 60 years. Out of that group for the last 20 years sprang the additional night group called "The Foursome." Sometimes, the once a month game, along with a little food & a lot of wine, went late into the night with more fun & laughs than bridge. Betts loved to play bridge & was good at it. How many bid a "Six No Trump" and make it. She was ask often to substitute in the other clubs. She was a longtime member of Woodlawn Country Club and the Covenant Presbyterian Church. She was truly one of a kind. She loved life and fully embraced all that life had to offer. She will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her. She loved greatly and she was greatly loved. Who could ask for more. We especially thank her neighbors for always watching out for her and loving her. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved brother, William Eli "Bozy" Keyes, Jr; niece, Angela Atterberry; and nephew, Jimmy Keyes, She is survived by her daughter, Jena May, of Dallas; her son, T Kirk May, Jr and his wife, Karen Caras May, of Dallas; and the light of her life, her grandson, Thomas Kirk May, III, a freshman at The University of Texas in Austin, who is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Big Kirk and his dad, T.Kirk – a fact she was so very proud about. She is also survived by her younger sister, Peggy Keyes Atterberry of Albuquerque, New Mexico; her baby brother, Joe Owen Keyes & his wife, Della, of Puyallup, Washington; nephew, Jeff Keyes and family, of Telephone, Tx; nephew, Damon Harris and wife Dr Penelope J Harris and family of Kansas City, Mo; niece, Debbie Keyes; and nephew, Bruce Keyes. Family Visitation will be held on Monday, 10/08/18, from 6:00-8:00pm at Dannel Funeral Home 302 S Walnut St Sherman, Tx 75090. A Celebration of The Beautiful Life of Our Mother, The Beautiful (inside-and-out) Betty Jean Keyes May will he held Tuesday, 10/09/18, at 1:00pm at the Covenant Presbyterian Church 322 W Pecan St Sherman, Tx 75090. Donations may be made in her honor to The American Heart Association , The American Cancer Society , The Family Place or the charity of your choice .