Barbara Marie May

Modesto, CA/Madison, WI: Barbara Marie (Raynor) May died peacefully at Capitol Lakes Terraces, Madison, WI on July 31st, in the presence of family. Barbara was born January 1920 to Arthur and Jessie Raynor in Hanford CA, and raised in Modesto on a small ranch. Barbara was a 1937 grad of Modesto High School. She proudly served on the debate team, the band and marching band under Prof. Mancini. As drum majorette, Barbara led MHS’s marching band at the opening ceremonies of the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge.

She graduated from Univ. of California Berkeley in 1941. During WWII Barbara worked for Consolidated Aircraft Co. in San Diego in the public relations department. In 1950 she moved to Ann Arbor, MI and completed her Masters in Library Science at Univ. of Michigan. Barbara married George N. May and they raised two sons, Michael and Robert. Much of her career was with Ann Arbor Public Schools as a junior high and middle school librarian. Her sons remember that most summers, Mom would drive them cross-country visiting national parks and monuments along the way, to arrive at their grandparents’ home in Modesto. After semi-retirement to Modesto, Barbara worked as evening librarian at Modesto Junior College. Barbara also took up golf and joined the Muni Niners women's golf group, earning more than a few trophies. Barbara resided for 17 years at Casa de Modesto and enjoyed wonderful neighbors and friendships. In 2013 she relocated to Madison WI to be closer to family and resided at Capitol Lakes Retirement Center. (A supply of her favorite Ghirardelli cocoa was always close at hand).

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Jessie Raynor, and her brother Harvey. Survivors include her two sons, daughters-in-law Katharyn and Joie, and her granddaughters Tiffany Joy and Tamera Joy of Reno, NV. Interment will be at Lakewood Cemetery, Hughson, CA, and a remembrance ceremony will held on October 28, 2017 from 1pm – 4pm at Lakewood Funeral Home. Her family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the staff of Capitol Lakes Terraces and Agrace Hospice for the compassionate and expert care their mother received.