JOPLIN, Mo. —
Marion H. (Hop) May, age 94, of Joplin, passed away at his home on Friday, March 15, 2013, after a long illness.
Born in 1918 in Bentonville, Ark., he was the son of the late Rufus May and Floy Lee Watson May. He graduated from Rogers High School, the University of Arkansas and West Point Military Academy. He retired after 20 years of service from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the rank of lieutenant colonel, having served in Germany during World War II and the Korean War. He then worked as a civil engineer for Fenix & Scisson Inc. from 1974 to 1990, where he helped engineer large underground propane storage areas and the drilling of holes for underground atomic bomb testing. In his later years with the company, he served as president of Missouri Steel Castings, Inc.
He married Lucy Wallace on Sept. 22, 1943, in Fort Smith, Ark. She preceded him in death April 1, 1989. He subsequently married Betty Short, of Joplin, on June 1, 1990. She also preceded him in death in 2006.
Hop had lived in Berlin, Oklahoma City, Okla., Japan (twice), Hawaii, Charleston, S.C., Spokane, Wash., Nashville, Tenn., Los Angeles, Calif., Tulsa, Okla., and Las Vegas, Nev., before moving to Joplin. His memberships included Twin Hills Golf and Country Club. He was an avid golfer, loved dogs and enjoyed fishing and bowling.
Survivors include his brother, Harold May and wife, Ruth, of Akron, Ohio; his son, James May and wife, Vivien, of Nashville; his daughter, Robin Olson and husband, Tim, of Chapel Hill; four granddaughters, Lauren Johnson and husband, Josiah, of Nashville, Whitney May and husband, Steven Levenson, Jessica Olson, both of Los Angeles, and Alia Olson, of Chapel Hill; and one great-granddaughter, Miller Rose Johnson, of Nashville.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at Rogers Cemetery in Rogers, Ark.
Online condolences may be made at www.parkermortuary.com
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