George Madison May, 80, of Baldwin, Kan., passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at a Baldwin nursing home with members of his family by his side.
George was born Sept. 1, 1945, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital - the second oldest of five children - to Vernon and Anna May. He attended schools at Baldwin, where he graduated high school with the Class of 1963. He married Patsy Dale Fugett of Lawrence on June 10, 1965 and the couple lived in the Lawrence and Topeka area for a few years before settling in Hamlin near other family members. In the mid 1970s they moved to Hiawatha, where they raised four children and lived until Patsy’s untimely death in January 2002.
George started his career driving trucks with Coca-Cola and eventually got a position with National By-Products in Seneca, where he worked for more than 30 years until his eventual retirement. Over the years, he also worked in several filling stations in the Lawrence and Topeka area, as well as in Hiawatha. In retirement, George got into woodworking and made several items for kids and grandkids throughout the years.
In his early years, George enjoyed racing jalopies in the Lawrence and Topeka areas. As his kids grew, George became very involved in coaching their Little League teams as well as coaching youth bowling for many years. The entire family was very involved in bowling and spent many hours at Maple Lanes Bowling Alley, where George and Pat also were involved in bowling on many couple’s leagues over the years.
George also was an American Legion Baseball umpire for 17 years, umpiring games where all three of his sons played at old Noble Field. He taught all he knew about umpiring to two of his sons, Rick and Jeff, who each have umpired more than 30 years.
George was a family man, he loved spending time with his family - whether at the bowling alley, on trips, at the ball field or in the family living room. He was also a hard worker and instilled that quality in his children.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Patsy; brothers Gene and Steve; a sister Judy; two brothers-in-law David and Mike, and a niece Stephanie. 
In late 2002, George remarried to Helen Jordan and they moved to Scranton, then later Baldwin. She survives of the home. Other survivors include sons Rick (Amy) of Hiawatha, Kenny (Nikki) of Lawrence, Jeff (Joey) of Hiawatha; a daughter Sheli Beall (Bryan) of Grantville; a sister Phyllis Dickerson (Lenny) of Ottawa; sisters-in-law Leanda May of Hiawatha, Annie May of Colorado, Jani Christenberry of Lawrence; brothers-in-law Lonnie Fugett of Perry and Steve Fugett (Bonnie) of Lecompton; grandchildren Sarah May of Hiawatha, Katlyn Howard (Dain) of Kansas City, Josh (Lindsey) May of Hiawatha, Corey May of Lawrence, Lauren (Luke) Paine of Topeka, Josey May of Hiawatha, A.J. May of Lawrence, Jack May of Hiawatha; great-grandchildren Teigan Moment of Hiawatha, Henry and Harper Paine of Topeka, two uncles and many nieces and nephews.
The family of George May will greet friends at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Hiawatha on Saturday, June 13 with a service to follow at 11 a.m. Pastor Jim Farris will officiate. Memorials in George May’s name may be made out to the Hiawatha Baseball and Softball Club, designated for the Championship Sports Complex ongoing project, and sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S. Seventh, Hiawatha, KS 66434. www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com