Shelby Bowen May, 85 of Gadsden, passed from this earth on 15 February 2022 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday February 22, 2022 at Crestwood Funeral Home. Boyd Brooks and Billy Hayes will be officiating.

Born in 1936, she spent most of her life in Etowah County, Alabama. She was a friendly and caring woman blessed with a beautiful singing voice who put God first in everything she did. Every action, every decision she made was in anticipation of meeting her Heavenly Father and hearing "Well done my good and faithful servant."

She and her husband Jimmy met as children and grew up school mates. Smitten, after graduating from Emma Sansom High School, they married when Jimmy returned on leave from the United States Air Force. Apart for a time while Jimmy was stationed in Newfoundland, they settled in the Orlando area for the remainder of Jimmy's tour.

Shelby obeyed the Gospel as a young woman and remained faithful thereafter. She was a member of the Sansom Avenue church of Christ where she taught children's Bible classes and then Fairview Road church of Christ where she taught ladies adult Bible class.

Shelby began her career at Etowah Manufacturing Company and retired from Midsouth Electric. After retirement, her favorite times were spent in the porch swing with Jimmy, studying scripture, singing hymns, spending time with her grandchildren and walking. Among her favorite pastimes was watching college football and basketball and Major League Baseball. She could talk sports with anyone.

She was a loving and supportive helpmeet accompanying Jimmy to marathons and triathlons and supporting his gardening and from a distance his beekeeping when he climbed trees and hung from limbs to catch honeybees.

She was a loving mother and grandmother who always supported and encouraged her children and grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, John Alvin and Mary Bowen. She left behind but waited only days for her her adoring husband of 67 years Jimmy May who passed away 18 February 2022. She is survived by her children Darryl (Christy) May, Southside, Gina May (George Edlund) Knoxville, Tennessee, grandchildren Gage Smith Leesburg and Jamie Gartman Gadsden, brothers Bill (Nancy)Bowen Parkersburg, WV, and John Bowen Attalla, and many nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind to cherish her memory her dear church family and special sisters in Christ, Joy Long and Doris Chapman and waits to embrace them again on the other side.

Honorary pallbearers are Sister-in-law Jeanie Wallace, Susan Gladden, Aimee Parker, Ann Willingham, Carol Palmer, Jan Williamson, and all the women of Fairview Road church of Christ.

Shelby requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Childhaven Children's Home in Cullman, Alabama.

Special thanks to RN Tyler Pence and Amedisys Hospice.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday starting at 9:00 a.m. and lasting until the time ofservice.