May Jeannine Richard

May Jeannine Cloninger was born May 16, 1930 in Livingston, Montana to James and Josephine (Boyd) Cloninger. In 1948, she graduated from high school at Wilsall, Montana.

She married LaVern Benton (Bud) Richard in 1949. In 1951 they both received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from what is now Montana State University - East Billings, Montana. She taught first grade in Nashua, Montana and Glendive, Montana, second grade in Livingston, Montana and third grade in Corvallis, Montana, but found great joy in kindergarten classes held in her home for seven years beginning in 1959 in Hamilton, Montana.

She moved to Oregon in 1988, living in Grants Pass, Beaverton and in King City since 1995. For eleven years she worked as a part-time "Nanny" and lovingly cared for children in the Lefferts, Yates and Preston families, retiring in 2000.

Ever since she came to know Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at the age of 40. She has been interested in missionaries, knowing many of them on a first name basis. She served many years in various capacities with Women With A Mission at her church.

Her best friend, Kerma Goss, survives her along with many friends in the Portland area, especially the Tom Springer Sr. family. Also surviving are her sons, Lester (Kim) in Kalispell, MT and Park (Melanie) in Billings, MT. Her grandchildren are Trisha and Lucas (April) in Kalispell, MT, and Daniel (Tamera) and Micha in Billings, MT; great grandchildren, Saige, Cassius, Jayden, Triniti, Arissa; and great-great grandchild, Marcee. Other survivors are sister, Wanda Bollinger of Conrad, MT; brothers, Gary Cloninger of Helena, MT and Jim Cloninger of Wolf Creek, MT; nephews, Jim Parker of Hamilton, MT and Alan Parker of Billings, MT. Her parents, her husband, infant brother, and foster son, Elroy Hameline, preceded her in death.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be mailed to Cedar Mill Bible Church, 12208 NW Cornell Rd. Portland, OR 97229 with the notation "FOM" on the check.