Billie Eugene May

Billie Eugene May was born on August 26, 1947, at Beloit, Kansas, to Harold Dale and Betty Lee (Couch) May.  He died Thursday, July 11 ^th , 2019, at the Salina Regional Hospital, Salina, Kansas, at the age of 71 years, 10 months, and 15 days.

Bill graduated from Burr Oak High School and earned an Associates degree from Salina Technical College in Drafting.  He was employed with Hanson Building in Hastings, Nebraska in 1968.  His love for the outdoors  and  the farm led him back home to farm with his dad for several years.  Bill accepted a job at Lehrling Chevrolet in Mankato, Kansas, as a service manager.  He loved meeting new people.  Bill was a hands on person.  He really enjoyed working with the guys in the shop.  Bill bought his first new car at Lehrling’s.  He had a love for cars.  Especially the three corvettes he owned.  Bill had several jobs after Lehrling’s closed. Bill had worked for Merle Blew at Mankato Welding.  He moved to St. George, Kansas, after accepting a job at Fields of Fair, where he made the very first bottle of wine.  He enjoyed working with his boss Jim Fair, for several years.

Bill and Linda Met in 1991.   They bought their home in 1992, and made Burr Oak their home.  Bill married Linda Manely on November 2, 1995, in Lakin, Kansas.  Doug and Mary Ann May stood up with Bill and Linda.

Bill really enjoyed the times he spent with Doug.  They made several trips to see them at their home in Lakin and when they came to the family farm in Mankato.

Bill loved to have a great lawn and a garden.  Linda and bill worked very hard at both.  They would canning the produce they got from the garden.  They also had chickens with Billie’s mom, Betty.  We would have regular factory line dressing chickens for the freezer.  It brought out lots of laughs, jokes, and water splashing.

Camping and fishing was a passion of Bill’s.  It was nothing for them to hook on to their campers and head for the State Lake.  They really enjoyed camping there with Roger and Linda Zeigler.  Everyone had a passion for hooking those catfish.  The fruits of fishing trips were the catfish fry on Labor Day for family and friends.  Bill also enjoyed fishing with his nephews – Landon W. and Chance M.

Bill was preceded in death by his father – Harold, sister – Janie Hall, brother – Roy May, and step-daughter – Traci Lyn Lammey.

He is survived by his loving wife, Linda of the home; daughter- Trisha May of Burr Oak, Kansas; sons – Troy and wife- Billie May of Gardner, Kansas, and Travis and wife- Deb May of Cimarron, Kansas; sisters – Martina May and husband – Butch of Salina, Kansas and Susan and husband – Ken Winslow of Burr Oak, Kansas; brother – Doug and Maryann May of Mount Hope, Kansas; seven grandchildren – Kirby, Brittany, Jessica, Anthony, Jeremiah, Jesse, Jonah; and a great-grandchild.

Bill May requested cremation with no service or viewing.  The family has requested that donations be sent to Melby Mortuary PO Box 384, Mankato, Kansas  66956, to help with final expenses.

Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas, was in charge of arrangements.