LEWISTOWN, IL - Thomas Allen May, 78, of 905 N. Broadway St. passed away at 6:39 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008, at his home.

He was born March 14, 1930, in Lewistown, the son of Don V. and Jessie M. (Hughes) May. He married Jo Ann West on April 29, 1950, in Palmyra, Mo.

She survives with three sons, Michael (Natividad) May of Silver City, N.M., Kenneth (Debby) May of Troy, Ill., and Dr. Keith (Mary) May of Destin, Fla.; one daughter, Jonelle (Jim Schauble) Montgomery of Macomb; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one brother, Frank (Sandra) May of Albuquerque, N.M.; and one sister, Nina (Gilbert) Stutes of Lewistown.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and three sisters.

He was a retired building contractor. He also worked for five years as a master craftsman at Silver Dollar City and worked for a year as a camp ranger at Ingersol Scout Ranch.

He was a member of the Illinois Street Christian Church in Lewistown. He was active for many years with Boy Scouts of America and served as assistant scoutmaster, a past district commissioner, and past district chairman for the Boy Scouts. In 1970, he was awarded the Silver Beaver and was appointed District Chairman Emeritus in 1978.

Cremation will be accorded. Burial of ashes will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lewistown.

Published in the Peoria Journal Star on 9/12/2008

Thomas A May