Shirley L. May

Shirley L. May, age 88, of Gering, Nebraska, passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Her memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, July 17, 2026, at Monument Bible Church in Scottsbluff with Pastor Dan DeBruyn officiating. Memorials in Shirley’s honor may be made to the Banner County Fire Department. The service will be livestreamed and recorded on Shirley's obituary page, viewable at www.reverencefuneralparlor.com.

Shirley was born February 8, 1938, in Kimball, Nebraska, to Kenneth T. and Leola B. (Sullivan) Wynne. She attended Banner County Schools and graduated in 1955. After graduation, she married Lloyd E. May on May 29, 1955. Five children were born to this union: LeAnn, Lana, Tom, Tim, and Randy.

Shirley and Lloyd spent their married life operating a dryland farming and potato business. She was often found driving a potato truck with a grandchild or two along for the ride. The couple decided in 1993 to move the potato business to Imperial, Nebraska, because this gave them a longer growing season for their crop. They raised and processed their own crops along with other growers' crops. They called the business, Frenchman Valley Produce, and Shirley was an intricate part of the business. She was the organizer and kept everyone in line. Shirley was currently living at Northfield Vista Assisted Living in Gering, Nebraska, where her family was told by Shirley’s fellow residents, as well as her caregivers in the hospital, that she gave them all a lesson on raising potatoes! The family business is now owned by their son, Tim, and his family.

Shirley was a classy lady with an outgoing personality and never knew a stranger. She volunteered in many organizations and was a great leader. She liked to bowl, golf, and play any kind of card games. She was known to be an excellent bridge player up to the end. Shirley was a competitor and never just let someone win. She also enjoyed dancing and was often the organizer of the senior citizens’ dancing group.

Shirley and her good friend, Don Kelly, would regularly visit Prairie Winds Casino hoping to come home as winners. They always shared the stories of their winnings, but rarely their losses!

Shirley had sixteen grandchildren and thirty great-grandchildren. She loved to go watch them participate in all of their sporting events, many times traveling hundreds of miles to do so. She was proud of every one of them and often shared their accomplishments with anyone who would listen.

Survivors include her sister, Sharon (Bob) Harvey; brother, Roger (Ann) Wynne; daughters, LeAnn (Alan) Nash and Lana (Don) Gray; sons, Tom (Bobbie) May, Tim (Tammy) May, and Randy (Tracy) May; grandchildren, Stephanie Ruffridge, Shana (Andrew) Dick, Torri Streeks, Tyler Streeks, Luke (Rayna) Gray, JC Gray, TJ (Mariah) Gray, Randa May, Ryan (Morgan) May, Taylor (Michelle) May, Mathew (Celeste) May, Michael (Bridgette) May, Todd (Charity) May, Taryn (Kyle) Kilty, Tanner (Diana) May; and 30 beloved great -grandchildren.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Leola Wynne; husband, Lloyd May; and grandson, Brian Gray.