May Shou-Mei Keh Chu

May Shou-Mei Keh Chu passed away on Friday July 11, 2014, after a brief illness. She was born on November 30, 1929 in Tientsin, China. She was the youngest of 6 kids and the only daughter. She emigrated to the United States in 1953. She had a love of classical music and was quite proficient on the piano. She was a loving wife and mother. She provided a nurturing, happy, fun-filled environment for the 6 J's and emphasized the importance of family. She was an excellent cook; the family was fortunate to regularly enjoy home cooked Chinese meals. She was very social and had many friends. The Chu house was the frequent site of holiday parties, banquets and mahjong games

After the birth of her 6th child, May and 3 close friends opened Ling Lee, a Chinese grocery and take-out store, which her husband referred to as her "7th child". After 2 years, two of the four friends dropped out; May and her friend Ming continued operating Ling Lee for another 8 years. They worked extremely hard and were proud of their accomplishments. She later worked at Kline’s Department Store and H&R Block.

May was preceded in death by James Chiao-Min Chu, her husband of 42 years. She is survived by her children: James (Marilyn), Joyce, Jeannette, Julia (Mike), Joanne Drife (Carl) and Jeffrey (Dawn), eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, and brother Ernest Kuh (Bettine) and many cousins, nephews and nieces.

A memorial gathering/visitation will be held on July 19, 2014 at 10:30 am followed by a Celebration of Mom's Life at noon at Muehlig Funeral Chapel in Ann Arbor.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following charities: