Edgar Lee "Ed" Mays

Edgar Lee (“Ed”) Mays was born on July 14, 1936 in Allen, Oklahoma to Thomas Matthew Mays and Esther Pearl Dyson Mays. Ed grew up in Allen with his parents and sister, Twyla, as well as many relatives. His strong spirit showed early when he triumphed over encephalitis as a thirteen-month-old (a feat for which he made the local paper). His focus on faith, family, and education was evident from a very early age, as was his adventurous and sometimes mischievous spirit. When not at church or school, he spent much of his youth helping both in the home and on the property, especially when his father was called away to active duty during World War II. In Ed’s own words, “My parents taught me many worthwhile things about life, living and getting along in the world. I learned that patience, tenacity, industry, respect for the rights of others, and satisfaction from hard, honest work were standards that give life a real meaning.” And Ed lived these lessons daily. Ed took education seriously and would not allow any ailment or weather to stop his education. He completed twelve years of public school without missing a single, solitary day and graduated in May 1954 as the valedictorian of his class of 26 students. Due to a family move, he went on to attend Del Mar Junior College in Corpus Christi before finding his way back to his beloved Oklahoma to finish at his beloved alma mater, University of Oklahoma where he graduated in 1959. He later received his Master’s degree from the University of New Mexico.

Ed was destined to be a teacher both in the school system and his church home. His first job was in the Oklahoma City Public Schools, followed by a stint in Corpus Christi and ultimately spending the majority of his career in Deer Park Public Schools. Ed never took the easy route and dedicated himself to working at the junior highs, first as a mathematics teacher and later as an assistant principal, principal and ultimately leading the opening of Fairmont Junior High. Even today, his imprint can be seen with the blue and green school colors and Viking mascot.

Faith in God and family also played an important role in Ed’s everyday life. He was an avid Sunday School teacher and was known to spend Sunday afternoons after he got out of church through the following Saturday surrounded by the Bible and reference texts to prepare for the next week’s lesson. He was a man of profound faith whose words and deeds reflected that love to the world.

Ed later met his beloved Helen whom he married on March 6, 1992. Little did he know that he was signing up for her large extended family, her two children and four grandkids to come that would love him so completely. The sides that Ed shared with his family were silly, loving, kind, and infused with the beliefs his parents had instilled in him so long ago. He and Helen enjoyed trips to Hawaii, traveling in the fifth wheel, Bible study, teaching English as a second language at their church, and just being with each other. Their love was an example to all who knew them of how it could and should be. He loved making his grandkids laugh, swinging them, as they squealed with delight, higher than their parents preferred, and spending time with them.

Ed is survived by his beloved wife, Helen; his children, Kimberly and Meredith Hill, Keith Hicks; his grandchildren, Riley Hill, Beckett Hill, Emme Hill, Mathis Hill, and Christine Moon.