Phyllis May

Phyllis May, age 91, of Grand Island, Nebraska and previously of Yankton, South Dakota, died on Sunday, January 27, 2019 at St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island. Funeral services are 2:00 PM, on Friday, February 1, 2019 at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with Reverend Dani Jo Bierwagen officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Yankton. Visitation begins one hour prior to the funeral on Friday at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home. Phyllis was born March 16, 1927 in Bird City, Kansas to Clyde and Bernice (Neel) Sawyer. Growing up during the Great Depression, Phyllis attended country schools in both Colorado and Nebraska. She completed her high school education in 1945 at Humphrey High in Humphrey, NE. To prepare for a teaching career, she earned her 2 year degree at Wayne State College in Wayne, NE and her 4 year degree at Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, CO. Her teaching career began at a country school near Humphrey, NE and later, North Platte, NE. On August 10, 1953, Phyllis married Irvin May of Niobrara, NE at Bremerton, WA. Her teaching career resumed in San Leandro, CA while her husband served in the U.S. Navy. She taught her last 30 years in Santa Clara, CA. Raising her family and working with young children were very satisfying years for her. She retired from teaching in 1982. She and Irvin then moved to Yankton, SD where they enjoyed their retirement years together. Phyllis’s hobbies were many. She loved flower and vegetable gardening, quilting, and cooking for guests. As a result of her passion for birthdays, she kept in touch with many friends and relatives through the years. She enjoyed spending time with her friends and neighbors, and following her favorite football team, the San Francisco 49ers. Phyllis is survived by her two children, Charlene (Bruce) Saunders of Meridian, ID and Chris (Ellen) May of Grand Island, NE; brother, Lyle (Maryann) Sawyer of Phillipsburg, KS; sister, Brenda Bowcut of Lincoln, CA; sister in law, Betty Sawyer of Wichita, KS; six grandchildren: Julia and Michelle Saunders, Kimberly (Steve) deJong, Andrew (Amy) May, Andrea (Jake) Ritzdorf and Nicholas May; seven great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Irvin May; granddaughter, Amanda May; brother, Larry Sawyer; and sister, Linda Melcher. To send an online message to the family, please visit www.wintzrayfuneralhome.com.