Janette May

On October 8, 1932 in Puxico, Mo., Janette Louise May, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Hodge) Glenn, was born as the last of eleven children. Janette passed away at her home in Elsah, Il. on May 27, 2012 at the age of 79 years. Janette met the love of her life when she and her husband of 61 years, Loy May, who survives, was only eleven years old. Once married on October 28, 1950, they spent the early years of their marriage residing between homes in Dumas, Texas, St. Louis, Cahokia and finally settling in 1959 on their small farm outside Edwardsville, Il where they raised their five children. These survivors, David May (Pat Mordvar) of Florissant, MO., Danny (Carol) May of Magnolia, AR., Doug (Kimberly) May of Collinsville, Il., Janelle (Kevin) McCoy of Dorsey, Il., Melissa (Greg) Guerra of Elsah, Il. After working as a long distance operator for Bell Telephone in Detroit, MI. as a wife and busy mother caring for five active children, she chose to rejoin the work force in 1968 as waitress at the once popular "Flaming Pit" seafood and steak house restaurant in Edwardsville. Janette's hard work and energy caught the attention of restaurant management who offered her the position of "Head Waitress," supervising over 30 servers, which she held until the restaurant closed in 1975. Later that same year she began her employment as a teller at The Bank of Edwardsville, holding the position of "Assistant Cashier," until her retirement after 15 years in the banking industry. Janette loved the beauty of nature and landscape. While vacationing and traveling throughout all 50 states, Europe and Canada she expressed the thrill of discovering yet another place of beauty. But her yard was always her favorite paradise as she planted and nurtured an abundance of fragrant, colorful flowers. Her enjoyment of nature extended to the colorful songbirds that would perch outside her sun room windows to eat from the myriad feeders that she and Loy made sure were always filled. Janette was always happiest when she was with her family. As an accomplished organist, she often entertained at family gatherings during the holidays, and when her brothers and sisters would travel to visit during the summers. Only her sister, Norma Hix, of Godfrey, Illinois survives among Janette's siblings. Also surviving are twelve grandchildren: Rodrick (Laura) May; Matthew May; Aaron (Jessica) May; Danielle May Kuiyai; Chad McCoy; Nicole (Corey) Wilkinson; Kent May; Nate May; Ryan McCoy; Lauren May; Daniel Guerra, and Allison Guerra. Janette also leaves nine great-grandchildren: William, Elisa and Jack May; Aidan and Wyatt May; Luke and Josi McCoy, Xavier Kuiyai; and River Wilkinson. She had an amazing ability to remember and commemorate special occasions for her entire family. Even while bravely fighting a debilitating illness for over a decade, she never missed an important date, acknowledging everyone. The date of her passing will surely be remembered by her dozens of loved ones. Visitation will be at Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, MO. on Thursday, May 31 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the Watkins & Sons Chapel on Friday, June 1, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. Internment will follow at the Puxico cemetery. Memorials may be made to Puxico First United Methodist Church, Building Fund. P.O. Box 68 Puxico, MO. 63960.