John "Eric" May Sr.

John “Eric” May, Sr. passed peacefully from this world and went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 28, 2018 at the age of 81. He was born in 1936 and was a native and resident of New Orleans, Louisiana until 1969, a resident of Harahan, Louisiana from 1969-2008 and has been a resident of Houston, Texas since 2008. He was a loving and devoted husband to his wife of 54 years, Vella Stoddard May, who predeceased him. Together they raised three sons, John Eric “Rick” May, Jr. (Tammy), Herbert Stoddard May (Sharon), and Roger Adam May (Karen). He was a fun loving grandfather to 8, Kristen May Rovira (Bradley), Elizabeth Grace May, Evan Eric May (Rebekah), James Herbert May, Adam Frederick May, Lee “Levi” Stoddard May, Delaney Isabel May, and Reyna Ava May, and a Great Grandfather of 5 - Piper, Camille, Knox, Lily, and Leo. He is also survived by his sister, Beverly May Bridgman, his sister in law, Isabel Stoddard Kurtz, his brothers-in-law, Dennis Lemoine, Sr. and Michael J. Kurtz and many wonderful nieces, nephews, extended family members and close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, George Elmer May, Sr. and Grace Granzin May, his mother-in-law, Lily Lobell Stoddard, his father-in-law, Herbert C. Stoddard, his brother, George Elmer “Buddy” May, Jr., his brother-in-law, John “Jack” Bridgman, Sr., his sisters-in-law, Bettie Dodson May, and Irene Stoddard Lemoine, and his nephew, Dennis Lemoine, Jr.

Eric was a graduate of St. Martin’s Episcopal School and Tulane University where he completed his degree at night while working full time to support his wife and growing family. He was a Piping Designer and later an Employee Relations Manager with American Cyanamid for over 10 years, an Executive Vice President in charge of Human Resources with Delta Steamship Co. and later with Lykes Bros. Steamship Co. for many years and was always highly regarded. He also exercised oversight of The Thirst Pavilion during the 1984 World’s Fair held in New Orleans, La.

Eric was an avid Sailor, owning several sailboats over the course of his life and was a frequent participant in sailboat races in Lake Pontchartrain and spanning the Gulf of Mexico. He was also a lifetime member of The Southern Yacht Club. He taught his sons to sail and passed his love for it especially to his son Herbert, who in turn took him sailing in his later years which he greatly enjoyed.

Eric had a beautiful baritone voice and loved to sing in the church choir. Even through a degenerating Alzheimer’s disease he never lost his love for singing the hymns that gave glory to His God and Savior and even in the final days before going to his heavenly home was heard singing his Great Redeemer’s praise! Eric was a member of Jefferson Presbyterian Church in Jefferson, Louisiana and later of Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church in The Woodlands, Texas. He and his lovely wife Vella regularly volunteered for many serving opportunities over the years including their church’s food bank and outreach to the elderly. Eric had a genuine care for others, a generous spirit, a fierce love for his family, an amazing wit, and an endearing smile and personality. He was so deeply loved and will be greatly missed.

We are grateful to the caregivers and residents of the Silverado Memory Care Community who have been as family these past three years.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral services at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans; on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. with visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow.

Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association or Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.