Ken May

Kenneth Lyle May, affectionately known as “Red,” was a proud University of Illinois alum, an Eagle Scout, a dedicated mechanical engineer for Boeing, and the definition of a family man. Born on December 2, 1951, in Canton, Illinois, Ken passed away at the age of 72, leaving behind a legacy of cherished memories and a life well-lived.

 Ken lived with joy and passion. He dominated the basketball courts at Wilson Park in Granite City, Illinois throughout 1989 - 2000, and later in life, he enjoyed biking around his neighborhood and hitting long drives on the golf course while his granddaughters cheered him on. He was delighted when they told him, “you’re the man, Grandpa” after a particularly good hit. Ken was often seen lacing up his ankle braces before stepping onto the local basketball courts and was always up-to-date with all the Illini recruitment information. A devoted St. Louis Cardinals fan, he shared a friendly rivalry with his wife Debby, who regrettably cheers for the Cubs.

 Ken loved animals and took in more strays than we can count, instilling the same love in his children and grandkids. With his expansive vocabulary, Ken solved St. Louis Post Dispatch crosswords and reigned as the family’s Scrabble champion. Ken was an artist with an eye for beauty. He built heirloom furniture with his dad and created watercolor and oil paintings in different styles, always challenging his creative limits. He exhibited a thirst for knowledge and modeled the wonder of learning throughout his entire life. He eagerly studied and earned a BA from the University of Illinois and an MA from Western Illinois University, which led him to a 41-year career at Boeing. He was proud of his accomplishments and made many strong and lasting friendships over the years. With his wisdom, grit, and can-do attitude, Ken handled complicated ideas with ease and helped others do the same. For those who knew Ken, they wanted him on their team—and there are many teams out there who will feel his absence.

 While Ken earned admiration from colleagues and friends, he gave his best to his family, who were his greatest pride and joy. We will miss our times with him fishing or foraging for morel mushrooms and witnessing his excitement when discovering “a honey hole.” He’d asked anyone on the expedition with him if they were “gonna step on ‘em or gonna pick ‘em?” We will miss his loud and off-key singing of “Monkey and the Engineer,” dancing with him to Garth Brooks hits in the kitchen, and the taste of his homemade cherry pies. We will miss getting random phone calls from him because he was thinking of us and seeing him drive his little red, stick-shift truck to buy his daily lottery scratch-offs. We’ll miss his knack for telling great but oftentimes inappropriate jokes, his love of a good prank and his outrageous Halloween costumes. We will never forget his Elvis impersonation or the fact he didn't work on January 8th because it was Elvis' birthday. Ken would do anything for a good laugh, and he shared his last joke on Friday, August 23, 2024. It’s one that, unfortunately, cannot be printed here. He's gone to crack jokes in heaven, and we know he’ll keep everyone there entertained.

 Ken’s life was defined by being a remarkable husband, father, grandfather and uncle, and lived with an unwavering commitment to find joy and share it with his loved ones. He was his children’s, granddaughters’, nieces’ and nephews’ biggest fan, cheering from the sidelines of their basketball games, cross-country meets or cheer competitions. He made sure to let them know how proud he was of their hard work.

 In his honor, the family asks that you go out, do something you enjoy, and share it with those around you. Celebrate his life by cheering on the Illini, wearing a little orange and blue, and singing “Hail to the Orange.” If you feel so moved, reach out and tell us about it—or share another joyful memory or time spent with Ken. We cherish the stories and feel privileged to have them as part of Ken’s memory.

 Ken is survived by his wife of 48 years, Debby (Burrows), his children Tiffany and Zack, his granddaughters Isabella and Sophia, his siblings Mike (Nati) May and Jonelle (Jim) Schauble along with his loving mother-in-law Rosie Burrows, his in-laws Gary (Pat) Burrows, Rick (Debbie) Burrows and Brad Burrows, along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews all of whom loved him as a husband, dad, grandpa, son, brother and uncle.

 Ken is preceded in death by his parents, Tom and JoAnn May, and his twin brother, Keith May. In honor of his final wishes, Ken’s remains will be sprinkled in a private service at a future date.

 Please sign the guestbook at WilsonSchrammSpaulding.com