Obituary of Richard Dees May

"Richard (Dick) Dees May, 80, of 10 Palmer Rd., Brimfield, MA passed away at home. Born November 28, 1927 in Worcester, Massachusetts of John Charles May and Virginia Dees (Goldie) May, Richard was pre-deceased by a brother Charles May and half-sister Dorothy May. He grew up in the greater Hartford, Connecticut area, attended Bethany College in West Virginia, and later pursued his college degree on the GI Bill at the University of Pennsylvania. In the late 1940’s Richard left the Navy Air Corp and married Laura Jane May (Pascoe), his wife of 56 years. Richard and Laura made their home in Sturbridge, Massachusetts where Richard established his first business, May Hardware, selling to builders throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. This led to a long career as a quality home builder in the Sturbridge area. He also built and ran the Quality Inn (formerly the Holiday Inn Express) in Sturbridge, MA, and partnered in the building of the 1738 House. In 1971 Mr. May bought the Kerry farm in Brimfield, Mass, using the land as an anchor field for the world-known Brimfield Antiques Show. May’s Antique Market, established in 1977, has been featured in many national publications and on television. May’s unique style of show opening garnered the business an excellent reputation, and was featured in the New York Times on Sunday May 01, 1988. Richard May enjoyed working in the family business with his wife and children as recently as this year. Richard’s true passion was sailing, where for 35 years he frequented the waters off Stonington, Fishers Island, Block Island, Cutty Hunk, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Maine. In addition he made two transatlantic crossings from France to the US. Richard and his wife enjoyed traveling to South American and Asia, completing two extraordinary trips to the remote areas of the Amazon jungle in Peru. Richard was a lifelong member of the Sierra Club and a member of The Nature Conservancy. He was an active Rotarian in Sturbridge until the 1990’s, and served as the President from 1979-80 and received the Paul Harris Award. As a fund raiser for the Rotary Scholarship Fund, he and his wife Laura successfully ran the Sturbridge Rotary Antique Show for many years. Richard spent his last ten years as a resident of Las Vegas, where he volunteered as a reading assistant to special needs students in the Nevada Schools. He returned to Massachusetts each spring where he enjoyed working with his family in Brimfield. Richard was an avid reader, and a loved the daily ritual of reading the New York Times. As a lover of new ideas and adventure, he encouraged all to take risks and to follow their dreams. He leaves his wife Laura, son Richard T. and daughter-in-law Joyce May of Cranston, RI, son Charles A. and daughter-in-law Ulrika May of Sweden, daughters Martha May of Northampton, MA, Ellen May of Wilbraham, MA and Susan Madara of Tuscon, AZ. He leaves 11 grandchildren ranging in age from 13-27. The family will receive friends and loved ones at the Beers & Story Funeral Home, 1475 North Main Street, Palmer, MA on Sunday, December 30 from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be sent to: Overlook Visiting Nurse Association Attn: Donations P.O. Box 1000 Charlton, MA 01507 508-792-3760 Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation 1332 N. Halsted St. Suite 201 Chicago, IL 60622 312-587-9272 "