Rosetta Grace May

Rosetta Grace Applegate May of Tollesboro Ky. entered into eternal rest November 18, 2014 at Hospice Care Center in Maysville Ky.. She was 96 years and 8 months old. She was born on March 10, 1918 at Pine Valley, in Lewis County Ky., the oldest child to the late Alfred Glenn and Opal Latham Applegate.

The resignation with which Mrs. May had accepted her illness was an inspiration to friends and reflected the depth of her truly Christian character. One whose kindly nature was expressed through many charitable deeds; she had gained for herself the affectionate esteem of her many friends. Mrs. May was a woman of many fine character traits and her great source of happiness came for her devotion and loving care of her family. She will be greatly missed by her Church, her Family, Friends and the Community.

At age 12, she was baptized into the Pine Valley Christian Church and was a member until her marriage to her husband Vernon Clarence May on May 18, 1938. At this time she transferred her membership along with her husband to the Methodist Church South. Mrs. May served as youth leader and Sunday teacher in the Methodist Church for many years. She and her husband cradled their children in the Methodist Church. Rosetta and her husband were active members of the Mount Tabor United Methodist Church near Ribolt until their deaths.

Mrs. May was a farmer and landowner near Cabin Creek, in the Ribolt community of Tollesboro. She worked at the Edith Henry Shoe Corporation in Maysville until its closure and then worked at the United States Shoe Corporation in Flemingsburg until her retirement.

She is survived by her youngest son, Tony K. May and his wife Debbe Hardymon May of Augusta, Ky. Also surviving is a daughter-in-law, Mary Irey May, of Maysville Ky. Three grandchildren survive, Jennifer Crawford and husband Billy, of Port Pierce, Florida, Troy May and wife Rachel of Maysville, and Brandon Justice of Augusta. Other survivors are six great-grandchildren, Sarah May of Maysville, Brandy Crawford and Jessica Crawford of Port Pierce, Gage Gordley, Isabella Justice and Tyson Justice, of Augusta. Two great-great grandchildren, Cayley and Regan of Port Pierce , also survive.

Besides her parents, Mrs. May was preceded in death by her husband Vernon Clarence May, ( March 22, 1990) to whom she was married for nearly 52 years. She was also preceded in death by her oldest son, Billy Shay May, (July 18, 2005, at age 66.) a grandson Tony Kent May Jr., one sister, Alice Rhodes, two brothers, Joseph O. and Wendell F. Applegate. Her grandparents were the late Clarence and Axis Browning Applegate and James Latham and Lorena Garrett Latham McNutt.

Services will be at the Mount Tabor United Methodist Church near Ribolt on Sunday November 23, at 1:00 PM. Officiating will be The Rev. Sam Jones, pastor of the Mt Tabor Church. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Services under the direction of Barbour and Son Funeral Home in Tollesboro. Burial will follow in the family pilot in the Mt Tabor Cemetery at Ribolt. Active pallbearers will be Trent Bryant, Gage Gordley Brandon Justice, Jeff Hardymon, Ronnie Hardymon, Troy May and Steve Moore. Honorary pallbearers will be Wilburn and Geneva Applegate, and Hansel Ash .

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to one’s favorite charity in memory of Rosetta Grace Applegate May.