Donna May

Through her kind heart and gentle spirit, Donna May touched the lives of so many within her reach. Thinking of others first came naturally to her, and both her acts of service and her heart of gold will be dearly missed.

It was just prior to the onset of the Great Depression that Joseph and Agnes (Thome) DeBoer were pleased to announce the birth of their baby girl, Donna Marie, on May 5, 1929. She was joined in her family by her younger brother, Richard, and lived in the family home on Baumhoff Avenue. Donna’s father owned and operated J.C. Grocery on the corner of Ann Street and Alpine Avenue. As the Great Depression blanketed our nation throughout the thirties, Donna’s parents closed the grocery store. She attended Holy Trinity School and Mt. Mercy Academy, graduating in 1946.

With her formal education behind her, Donna found work as a stenographer at Mutual of New York Insurance. On August 4, of 1946, a mutual friend arranged a blind date for Donna with a young man named Elmer May, who called and asked her to accompany him to the Ionia Free Fair. Elmer was a farmer who served in the Navy during the war.They were together four years and becamed engaged in September of 1950. The couple married on November 4, 1950. .The newlyweds enjoyed a honeymoon in Kentucky and then moved in with Elmer’s parents while they were building their own home on Fruitridge Ave. where they live today. Elmer was a third generation fruit farmer who also had dairy cows. Together the couple was blessed with five children: Tom, Ken, Don, Julie, and Connie.

Farming was a family affair in the May household. The kids all had daily chores and since farming is a way of life, vacations were day trips to places like Greenfield Village, Grand Haven, and Norton Shores. Faith played a vital role in Donna’s family, too, and they were very active members of Holy Trinity Parish. Donna prayed the rosary often and was very dedicated to her faith.

Known as “the sweet corn lady” by nearly everyone, Donna kept a very large garden full of countless vegetables including 300 tomato plants and 12 acres of sweet corn. It’s not surprising that Donna was a great cook as well who was most famous for her goulash, zucchini bread, and stews and casseroles.

When their family grew to include grandchildren, Donna was thrilled. She never missed an important day, school event, or activity that any of her grandchildren were involved in.

Throughout her life Donna had many interests. She loved polka music and was an accomplished seamstress who also won awards for her cross-stitching, and crocheting. Additionally, Donna completed the crossword puzzle from the press everyday.

Life will never be the same without Donna May here, but her family and friends will forever treasure the meticulous notes she kept that chronicled countless events, the memories they made together, and the unending love she freely gave.

Donna M. May died on October 18, 2011. Donna’s family includes her husband, Elmer May; her children, Tom (Ann) May, Ken (Sue) May, Don May, Julie May, Connie (Bob) DeLeeuw; 6 grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Nancy DeBoer; brother-in-law, Carl (Joan) May; many nieces, nephews and friends. Donna was preceded in death by her brother, Richard DeBoer. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church – Alpine. Relatives and friends may meet her family at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. with the rosary at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will also be held at the church on Saturday for one hour prior to the Mass. Contributions may be made to Faith Hospice. To leave a memory, visit her web page at www.lifestorynet.com.