Albert May

Albert Lee May, Sr., was born on April 20, 1942, in Mecca, Missouri, to his loving parents Benjamin F, Sr., and Lucille May. Albert was the seventh of sixteen children born into this union. He had five sisters, Rosa, Lois, Verna Glenora, Zelia, and Elmira, and ten brothers, Curtis, B.F., Jr, Floyd, Wilbert, Raymond, Theron, Dale, Ronnie, Carl, and Andre. Albert came from a hard-working family that owned hay fields and knew how to live off the land. Albert had many fond memories of growing up in Plattsburg, Missouri, where the family settled. Working (and playing) in and around the hay fields provided security for the family and opportunities for fun (and mischief) for Albert and his siblings. He once told the story of how he and his brother Floyd attempted to help their mother prepare chickens for dinner. The big ones were too hard to catch (Albert and Floyd were about 7 and 5 years old), so they went after the little ones. They couldn't sit down for a week after Lu got through! He also loved gardening and was very good at it; it's something that his daughter, Carletta, grew to share in common with him. Albert also grew up hunting and fishing. What he caught or killed never went to waste, and he was more than willing to share with anyone who was interested.

Albert attended Plattsburg High School, where he was a three-sport athlete who lettered in football, basketball, and track all four years. He also had excellent math skills and was very good with numbers. Albert would prepare tax returns for fun (and profit) in later years for many relatives, friends, and others. He proudly graduated with the class of 1960.

Albert met the love of his life, Carrie Kathryn McGaughy, when she was fifteen. His cousin, Ralph Harris, was trying to date Carrie's sister, Carolyn. Since Carrie and Carolyn were always together, Ralph needed a "distraction" for Carrie. The "distraction" proved effective because Albert and Carrie soon became a couple. However, the course of true love was a little rocky at times (teenagers!), but Carrie had an inside man (or brother), one of Albert's younger brothers, Raymond May! When Carrie and Carolyn needed information on Albert and Ralph, they'd call Raymond, all of them knowing he was going to get beat up for telling, but he'd tell it anyway! Sadly, Raymond passed away just four days after Albert. They are now together, at peace, with most of their family.

Nevertheless, love prevailed. On June 3, 1961, Albert and Carrie married when they were 19 and 18 years old. Albert recalled, at their 40th wedding anniversary, how he met Carrie. "Ralph lured me into going to St. Joe by saying, 'Man, have I got a girl for you!'….and she's STILL the girl for me!"

Their union was blessed with five beautiful children, Albert Lee, Jr., Floyd Eugene, Sr., Kathleen Lori, Carletta Elaine, and Victor Tyrone, Sr. Albert, though he had a good childhood, always wanted to ensure that his children had better than he had. He worked incredibly hard to make sure that their needs were met and many of their wants. Albert, Jr., Floyd, Sr., and Victor, Sr. wanted to play football, so he made a way for them to play and tried to make every game. Kathleen (Lady) wanted to be a Girl Scout, so she became one. Carletta (Letta) wanted to be a Brownie (no actual brownies involved), so she was.

There were countless family trips to Missouri and Kansas, trips to the Cave of the Winds, the Garden of the Gods, and the North Pole, fishing trips, picnics, or just plain old gatherings that he made happen. Lady, Letta, and Victor, Sr. were even fortunate enough to go to Disneyland after Albert, Sr. had taken his lovely Carrie on a trip to Hawaii. When Victor, Sr. was diagnosed with cancer, he fought it right alongside his youngest son, providing hope, courage, and strength to get through those challenging days and nights. Albert made a way out of no way for Albert, Jr. to attend Texas Southern University and Letta to attend Grambling State University. He proudly attended both graduations. Albert also had the "serious" duty of sizing up Letta's fiancé, Rodney King. Fortunately for Letta, Rodney passed the test!

In addition to their biological children, anyone who knew Albert and Carrie well understood that they had many children who were, essentially, theirs. Those of you here today, honoring Albert, and by extension, Carrie, know that you are a part of their family, whether by birth or not.

Albert always seemed to find time to help out when needed in whatever way he could. He'd teach someone how to properly use a tool, help someone learn to drive a stick shift, even walk someone down the aisle. One of Letta's dearest friends, Sylvia, ran down a long list of things and deeds she remembered and reminded us of what Pastor Frank recently said, "He was the neighborhood dad ." As selfish as kids can be (that's MY daddy!), it brings some measure of comfort to know, and truly understand, that so many people saw what we saw. Carrie's husband, our dad, was truly a blessing. He was an incredibly good, kind, and decent man in a time when we're seeing values and standards for what makes a good human being tested on a daily basis.

Albert worked many different jobs in Missouri as a young father, including a stint at a hat factory, while his little family grew. Ultimately, he moved the family to Denver, CO. Albert worked for many years at Shell Chemical. Though he was able to earn a living wage to support his family, it wasn't easy work. There were times when the union he belonged to would go on strike for better, safer working conditions. There were days he'd get up and walk the picket line, come home, nap, eat, then go to whatever job he could find to continue to care for his family—no whining or excuses. Albert took care of business. Eventually, when Shell Chemical moved out of state, Albert went to work for Public Service (now Excel Energy). He was such a hard worker that, after putting off necessary back surgery for years, he had accrued more than enough time to have the surgery and recover comfortably. In fact, he took all of his time off, a full year, went back to work for one day and retired.

Albert was a quiet man of many talents. He was an accomplished singer and musician who played guitar, left-handed, and often, when he was younger, played in a band with many of his brothers. He was also a talented artist who once painted a beautifully rendered and detailed nativity scene on the front window of our family's home for Christmas.

Being a little country boy, he enjoyed fishing (a love of which he's passed on) and hunting-bow hunting. He was scary good at it. In addition to those past times, Albert loved to watch westerns. It drove Carrie a little crazy because he could watch them, any and all of them, over and over! However, Albert and Carrie loved watching and cheering on his beloved Denver Broncos, Rockies, Nuggets, and Kansas City Chiefs. But, what he enjoyed most was his family, kids, grandkids, and especially his great-grandkids. Just as when we were kids, the little ones were drawn to him-our beloved daddy, grandpa, pawpaw, and Bo. Carrie's beloved husband, Albert, will be sorely missed, but our lives are all much richer for having had this time with him. The Lord gave him to the world and then to you, Carrie. Thank you for sharing him with all of us. You will meet again.

Albert, and his beloved Carrie, were a formidable unit who understood that, beyond the sacrifice and selflessness necessary for building a successful marriage while raising five children, love is all-the laughter, the tears, the mundane, the magical, the careless word, the healing touch, the receiving and the giving of love. Love is all. We are truly blessed that he was ours, if only for a little while.

Albert is preceded in death by his sons, Floyd E. May, Sr. and Victor T. May, Sr.; his beloved parents, Benjamin F., Sr. and Lucille May; his brothers Curtis May, Benjamin F. May, Jr., Floyd May, Sr., Wilbert May, Robert (Dale) May, Ronnie May, Carl May, and Andre May; his sisters, Verna Glenora Bennett, Lois Daughtry, Zelia Groves, and Elmira Wallingford; and his dear cousin Ralph Harris. His brother, Raymond May, passed from this life on December 19, 2021.

Albert Lee May, Sr. departed this life into the loving embrace of the Lord on December 15, 2021, at Platte Valley Medical Center in Brighton, CO.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 60 years, Carrie (McGaughy) of Commerce City, CO, son Albert L. Jr. (Arlette) of Huston, TX; sisters Kathleen Getter and Carletta (Rodney) King, both of Denver, CO; siblings Rosa Walker and Theron May, both of Plattsburg, MO; grandchildren Lori (Rodney) Marshall, Victor May, Jr. (Jessica), Breia May, Vincent May, Sr., Monika (Nate) Mason, Tanisha Johnson, Tashara May, Karri May, Krystal (Bryant) Mbamalu, Floyd May, Jr., Victoria May, Tyler May, Fatima Kitwanna (Tremaine), Shay Celeste, John Johnson, Micah Johnson, Al Getter, and Brandon Getter; 20 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, lifelong friends, and surrogate children.