Lonnie May

Lonnie was born on December 15, 1934 to Joseph and Pauline May in Wichita, Kansas. Pauline, a devoted listener to Hawaiian radio hour on Sundays, named her son after Bing Crosby’s crooning “Sweet Leilani.” As a child, Lonnie helped his mother stuff damp rags into window and door cracks during dust bowl storms, slept on blankets on the banks of the Arkansas River hoping to beat the scorching Kansas heat, and spent summers on his best friend’s farm.

He fell for the love of his life, Coleene Beal, at first sight—when she strode into his 8th grade classroom at Allison Junior High and put her gym shoes down in the middle of the aisle. They married on January 23, 1953, shortly after graduating high school—Coleene in a gray, wool suit with a white orchid corsage and Lonnie in a trim dark suit and tie. The two had a summer honeymoon in Missouri, with Coleene craving nothing but watermelon and mashed potatoes. Six months later, Lonnie and Coleene welcomed their first child—Pamela Jo—into their family, followed by Jerri Lynn, Kevin Joel, and Janet Sue. Much like his car mechanic father, Lonnie loved cars and spent his career at Ford Motor Company, starting as a part-time parking attendant in high school. He retired over 40 years later as Parts Manager of Rusty Eck Ford—the eleventh most successful Ford branch in the country—having proudly grown his department from six employees to over 50.

Lonnie’s love for fishing was almost as profound as his love for Coleene. Nothing delighted him more than angling for muskie at Pomme de Terra lake, discussing the pitfalls and virtues of different kinds of lures, and patiently teaching his children and grandchildren how to cast a line. He was also an insatiable jazz lover, voracious reader, and longtime member of the Sedgwick County Zoo.

Lonnie was preceded in death by his wife, Coleene and great-grandson, Bentley. He is survived by: his daughter, Pam Petkanas, son-in-law, George and their children: Zac and his husband Levi, Zoe, and Xena; daughter, Jerri May and son-in-law, Tim; son, Kevin May, daughter-in-law, Ramona Jean and their children and grandchildren: Missy Green, Amaryllis Pickett, her husband, Mike, and daughter, Lucy, Kristen Young, her husband, Travis, and sons: Dylan, Brandon, and Logan, Taylor May and his wife, Abby; daughter, Janet Shryock, son-in-law, Dennis, and their daughter, Haley; and loving friends, Harold Stover and Lisa Galbraith.

For those looking to honor Lonnie’s memory, the family suggests donations be made in his name to the Sedgwick County Zoo and Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in lieu of flowers.

Memorial services will be held at 1pm on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Resthaven Mortuary and Gardens of Memory, in the Garden of Freedom, 11800 US-54, Wichita, Kansas 67209.