Lon Thomas May, age 86

NEWTON

Lon Thomas May, age 86, died at Diversicare Nursing Home in Martin, TN on Good Friday, April 6, 2023. Lon was born January 4^th 1936 in Newton, IL to Ira and Dorothy May. He was the youngest in a family of three sisters and two brothers, John, Don, Lenora, Irene, and Helen.

He grew up on a farm in Newton where he did usual farm chores including raising a calf for 4-H, caring for the chickens and working in the fields. He began taking piano lessons and singing in church at a young age and also played the oboe and clarinet. Lon attended Eastern Illinois University majoring in music, then began his career as a teacher in the Downers Grove, IL public school system where he taught for thirty-eight years. He received his Masters of Music degree from Northern Illinois University. 

Mr. May helped to form the Downers Grove Children’s Choir which he directed for many years. He also served as the choir director for a number of Episcopal and Methodist churches in the Chicagoland area for thirty-five years. He was the first musical director of the Grove Players which produced Broadway musicals, and also sang for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chorus where he met his future wife Charlotte J. Reagan who he married in.

Lon was a wonderful husband and father and is survived by his wife Charlotte J. May, son, Michael T. May, daughter-in-law Kelly J. May, and the proud grandfather of Reagan J. May who was his true delight.

Mr. May made a positive impact on many lives as a teacher and funeral services will be held at the Bowlin Funeral Home in Dresden, TN at 11:00am on May 6, 2023.