Cover photo for Carolyn (Held)  May's Obituary
Carolyn (Held)  May Profile Photo
1922 Carolyn 2023

Carolyn (Held) May

November 7, 1922 — November 6, 2023

Carolyn Held May,
Died November 6, 2023 at the age of 100 years and 364 days. She was born in Hastings, NE to Albert Anthony Held and Minnie Pratt Held. She grew up in Lincoln and was a graduate of the University of Nebraska where she was a member of Alpha Phi Sorority. It was at the University of Nebraska where she met the love of her life, Jack May, the Kentucky boy sent to engineering school by his rich Uncle Sam. They were married June 8, 1944 in Dothan, AL just before Jack was shipped overseas. After the war they made their home in Mt. Sterling where they raised two children. She was the oldest member of the First Presbyterian Church, worked 18 years at Montgomery Bank, taught Sunday School, was a Brownie Leader, Past President of the Church Women's Club, Volunteered at the Post Clinic and the Mary Chiles Hospital Auxiliary. She was a member of two bridge clubs and played regularly until the age of 97 when her eyesight prevented it.

She is survived by a daughter, Nancy May (Terry McVey), Lexington and  son, Bert (Timi) May, Mt. Sterling, two nephews Dr. Charles (Jean) Held, Reno, NV, Craig (Tina) Held, Boulder, CO and Grasse, France and step grandchildren Tanner(Madison) McVey and Taylor McVey (Ehren Smith) great grandchild Griffin McVey.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband Jack May, a brother, Sidney Nelson Held and a niece, Harriett Held Kloud.

Funeral Service will be held at 1:00PM on Friday, November 10, 2023. Visitation will be held prior from 11:00AM - 1:00PM. Both will be held at First Presbyterian Church 125 West Main Street Mt. Sterling, Kentucky 40353. Interment will follow at Machpelah Cemetery. Pastor Jennifer Powell will be officiating.

Pallbearers: Dennis Bonfield, Rickey Crump, Chris Gillum, Joe King, Danny Razor, John Schwickert, Dr. Tom Thornberry, Ralph Wills.

In lieu of flowers donations to the First Presbyterian Church 125 West Main Street Mt. Sterling, Kentucky 40353 or Bluegrass Care Navigators 1733 Harrodsburg Road Lexington, Kentucky 40504 would be appreciated.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Carolyn (Held) May, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, November 10, 2023

11:00am - 1:00 pm (Eastern time)

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Friday, November 10, 2023

Starts at 1:00 pm (Eastern time)

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Interment

Friday, November 10, 2023

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 40

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree