Judy May

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Judy Kay May passed away in Lowell, Kansas, surrounded by her family, on December 15, 2024, after a long battle with dementia. She was a loved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, neighbor, and friend to those who knew her.

Judy was born on October 25, 1941 in Joplin, Missouri to Carl Kenneth Underwood (Kenny) Vergie Louise Banning (Peggy.) She graduated from Baxter Springs High School.

As a teenager, Judy worked at the Twilight Drive-in for a few summers and then at a local fireworks stand, where she met, and fell in love with her future husband, Don May. They married February 23, 1958. They lived in the Riverton/Lowell, Kansas area for nearly all of their 66 and a half years of marriage. They lived a simple life, raised their three children there, modeling loyalty and instilling a strong work ethic. They enjoyed spending time with their couples friends, eating out, traveling on his motorcycle, hosting big family gatherings, sitting in their yard, but mostly just being together. They were inseparable.

Judy was an energetic and dedicated homemaker while her children were growing up. She very much valued our education and was actively involved in Riverton Schools, volunteering as a homeroom mother for each child, as well as being an active member of the PTA. She also served as a Girl Scout leader. In the summers, Judy enjoyed taking her kids to Five Mile to picnic and swim for the day with other moms and friends. She would later use her time working locally in banking and bookkeeping as well as helping care for her aging parents and grandparents.

Judy loved all animals, but especially horses…from her time spent playing cowboys & Indians as a young girl, listening to country music on the radio all day and every day, collecting western memorabilia, dressing in western clothing, watching western movies, riding in the Calamity Janes Drill Team, to convincing Dad to take her to the big Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in Wyoming, and eventually, even a Carousel Horse Convention. She always loved horses and wished to be a cowgirl. He was a darn good sport.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Kenny and Peggy Underwood, grandchildren, Cody Kent and Macy Don Warstler, and most recently, her husband, Don May, on August 23, 2024. She is survived by two siblings, Beverly Betterton (Carthage, Missouri) & Don Underwood (Kilgore, Texas,) three children, Debbie Nichols (Stephen), Pam Kemp (Kevin), and Danny May (Shannon) Grandchildren, Alex Nichols, McKinzie Koons, Kylee Thompson, Kassidy Teel, and Noah Kemp. Great-grandchildren; Jack Koons, Maylee and Jett Thompson, and Indie Teel. Step grandchildren; Tony Nichols, Justin, Ryan, Laura, and Kate Kemp, Summer Kemp-Schlemmer. Step great-grandchildren; Josie and Gladly Kemp-Schlemmer and Cohen and Anders Kemp.

Services will be Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Derfelt’s Baxter Chapel, with a 10:30 AM visitation followed by a service at 11:00AM. There will be a private burial at Lowell Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.