Craig Allen May

Craig was born on June 21, 1956, in Wichita, Kansas, and grew up in Ponca City, Oklahoma, where he graduated from Ponca City High School. He loved telling his kids that he got F’s in school...for Fantastic.

Craig spent his working life doing what he did best: showing up, working hard, and giving his full effort no matter the job. He worked as a carpenter and ceiling mechanic for the Joe McGill Company for over a decade before becoming a contractor for In-Tech, where his son Chad later followed in his footsteps, working alongside him. Later, Craig worked with his best friend, Ron Gray, de-icing airplanes. That partnership eventually led them to start Wichita Ground Services LLC, providing ground services for Frontier Airlines. Before retiring, Craig worked as a chauffeur for All Class Limo, owned by his son-in-law. No matter where he worked, Craig took pride in what he did and gave every job his all.

Craig had a personality that filled a room. He loved telling stories, being the center of attention, and making people laugh. Whether surrounded by family, friends, or strangers, Craig could always find an audience.

He loved riding his Harley, camping, traveling, and making memories along the way. As a young father, Craig spent many Saturdays flying RC planes with friends at the local flying field, earning plaques from races and enjoying the camaraderie. Later in life, that same enthusiasm carried over into RC cars, a hobby he shared with family. He built a racetrack at his daughter Krista’s home, where he spent time racing, laughing, and creating memories together. Craig’s love of adventure continued into grandparenthood. In 2000, he became a grandfather for the first time with the birth of Halie May, fully embracing the role and taking her everywhere with him, even buying her her own set of leathers so she could ride on the Harley with him.

Camping held a special place in Craig’s life and created some of his most cherished memories. He began camping at El Dorado Lake with Jill, Chad, and Krista, starting out with a simple pop-up camper. As the years went on, Craig upgraded to a pull-behind camper, and camping became a larger family tradition shared with his siblings Arnold, Barbara, and Dave, along with their families. Eventually, Craig moved up to a fifth wheel, spending many happy summers camping with friends and family at El Dorado, The Puddle and Four Mile Creek Resort. Those weekends by the lake were filled with laughter, stories, and time together.

In 2019, Craig and Jill moved to Poinciana, Florida, along with Jill’s father, Mike Nelson. They had a beautiful pool home that looked like it belonged in a botanical garden thanks to Craig's green thumb. Craig spent those years planting hundreds of flowers and tending to them. As annual passholders at Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld, they took full advantage of their time together. They explored the state through countless excursions, always ready for the next adventure.

In June 2024, after facing numerous health problems, Craig underwent a below-the-knee amputation. He immediately set his sights on moving back to Kansas so Jill would be taken care of in case something happened to him. When Craig had a goal, he made it happen. He sold their home, purchased a brand-new house in Andover, and got everything packed and back to Kansas by the end of the summer. After moving into their new home, Craig wasted no time, despite recovering from major surgery, installing a yard and fence, often working alongside family, determined to get everything set up for Jill.

Craig spent the end of his life enjoying his family and grandchildren. He loved attending his grandson, Antonio's track meets, even riding his scooter to the track to watch him practice. He went to his granddaughter Aria's volleyball games and dance recitals. He became the “neighborhood grandpa,” entertaining neighborhood kids with magic tricks and pulling sleds with his scooter. He and Jill often enjoyed the Redbud Trail with Craig on his scooter and Jill on her bike.

During his final hospital stay, Craig maintained a positive attitude and his sense of humor never left him. When doctors told him he had an infection and would need to amputate his remaining leg, Craig joked that it would be easier to walk with two prosthetics, because it would be just like the stilts he wore as a carpenter. Even in that moment, he was already planning a joke, working with the nurses to prank his grandson during a visit.

On his final day, Craig received the good news that his pacemaker was working well. He got out of bed for physical therapy, filling the hallways with playful sound effects from his scooter. After a positive morning, Craig returned to bed, where he peacefully went to sleep and took his final breath with Jill by his side.

Craig will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather; a loyal brother and friend; a hardworking man with an infectious personality; and someone who truly lived life fully, no matter the challenges he faced. He often lived by the motto, “Don’t spend your life making a living; spend your living making a life.”

He was preceded in death by his parents, Benny and Jean May; his sister, Barbara Russell (Phil); and his sister-in-law, Linda May, wife of Arnold May.

He is survived by his wife, Jill May of Andover; his son, Chad May of Wichita; his daughter, Krista May-Shackelford, and her husband, Quentin Shackelford, of Andover; his granddaughters, Halie May and Aria Shackelford; his grandson, Antonio Nevarez; and his brothers, Arnold May of Wichita and Dave May (Lori) of Council Grove, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, we are asking for donations towards a memorial bench to be placed on the Redbud Trail where he loved to ride his scooter.