Robert Eugene May of Hays, Kansas, passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at his home surrounded by family.
Known as Bob to everyone, he was born to Harry C. and Maude (Fink) May in Broughton (Clay County), Kansas on July 6, 1934. In high school he was “Bobby” to his classmates in Luray, Kansas. He was an accomplished high school athlete, playing tailback behind his fullback brother Charles. He graduated from Luray High School in 1952 and shortly thereafter married the love of his life Nina Faye Kirkendall on December 4, 1953. Nina preceded Bob in death on December 14, 1997.
Father to three sons, Tony, Terry “TR”, and Tim, he was a role model to each of his sons in many facets of life, from being a father and husband, to supporting his family in all avenues of life interests, and one to instill his love of sports and the outdoors in his family. Bob and Nina were always present in their sons’ church, cultural, and athletic events. After his retirement, he continued his avid support of everything in which his grandchildren were involved. He would travel to theater performances in Texas, countless sporting events around western Kansas, and be seen wearing a Kansas University Softball sweatshirt only in support of his granddaughter’s play. Called “grandpa” by his granddaughter’s high school softball teammates for being at every game, he was awarded Fan of the Year at the Hays High Athletic Banquet in 2002. He was supportive of his great-grandchildren’s events as well, often being a cheering fixture in the stands and along the sidelines. Bob was always a Fort Hays State fan first and then a Kansas State fan, letting the common FHSU fandom bring together a house sometimes competitively divided.
Bob’s employment included short stints at newspapers in Natoma and Manhattan Kansas, and then the remainder of his career was spent as a printer at Fort Hays State University. The University honored him at his retirement on June 13, 1998, after 38 years of service.
As an FHSU season ticket holder, he bought two tickets every year for football and basketball and would generously share the second ticket with his sons, grandchildren, and friends. He was a member of the Fort Hays Tiger Club and will be dearly missed by his close friends at the Daylight Donut Coffee Club and his golf partners at Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course.
Bob was a long-time member of and Deacon and Elder at First Presbyterian Church in Hays.
His hobbies included hunting, fishing, and camping. His hunting included deer, turkey, pheasant, quail, duck, and goose, and he loved to trout fish a Colorado stream or mountain lake. He spent several weeks each year camping in the mountains with his family. He truly enjoyed twice a fishing trip with his sons in Manitoba Canada, fishing for walleye, small mouth bass and northern pike. The remote access to the fishing was via a 40-minute flight and a lake-landing in a vintage World War II era float plane. He enjoyed occupying the co-pilot seat for the flight. Trophy fishing, snapping turtles, black bear were part of the Canada experience. It was an adventure shared with his sons he cherished. Bob loved camping his entire life. With his sons he enjoyed many a Boy Scout camping trips not shying away from a sleeping bag on the ground, under the stars, and cooking meals on an open fire. His love for camping evolved over the decades with yearly Colorado vacations that started first in tents and then later in RVs.
Bob became active in the local chapter of the American Cancer Society following the death of Nina. Bob contributed his time and effort to the founding committee of the annual Hays Relay For Life Golf Tournament held in June with unwavering dedication. In his activism, Bob was joined by his three sons as they all teamed together to play in the tournament. Tournaments that followed shortly thereafter saw his grandchildren come and join in the golf play. A ritual with spouses and great-grandchildren then began as they attended the post-round festivities. A backyard picnic barbecue he hosted for family and friends ended the tournament day, making the annual event truly a time spent in reunion with family and reason to celebrate the life of Nina.
Bob was the youngest of a family of nine siblings, and is preceded in death by his parents and all brothers and sisters: Baby Girl May, Elizabeth May, Carl Wait, Mildred “Millie” May (Sjolander), Walter Wait, Dorothy May (Languein), Harry C. May Jr. (“Harry D”), Jean May (Lamar, Piland), Leroy “Roy” May, Dean May, and Charles May.
He is survived by his sons Tony (Kris), Terry “TR” (Sue) and Tim (Debi); his grandchildren Tiffany May (Jeremy) of Brooklyn New York, Hamilton Tyler May (Tammy) of Richardson,Texas, Danielle May (Lisa) of Kansas City, Kansas, Trevor May (Kristie) of Hays Kansas, and Tara May of Hays Kansas; his great-grandchildren Toby May and Eli May (Trevor/Kristie), Lincoln May and Eleanor May (Tyler/Tammy), and Dez May (Trevor/Kristie).
Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Christine Wagner officiating. Burial alongside his wife Nina will follow in Mt. Allen Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 8:00 on Friday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and from 9:00 am until service time on Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Bob’s name to the HaysMed Hospice or to the First Presbyterian Church. Condolences and memories of Bob may be shared with his family at www.haysmemorial.com.